_The same day_ On which Jesus delivered the discourse, and performed the miracles recorded in the preceding chapter, being unwearied and incessant in the blessed work in which he was engaged, he _went out of the house_, into which he had retired for a while, _and sat by the sea-side_ Namely, the sea... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he spake many things unto them_ “Delivered many doctrines of the highest importance, wisely making choice of such for the subject of his sermons, when he had the greatest number of hearers, because on those occasions there was a probability of doing the most good by them.” _In parables_ The wor... [ Continue Reading ]
_When he sowed, some seeds fell by the way-side_ By the side of a beaten path which lay through the ground he was sowing. This wayside being neither broken up by the plough nor hedged in, the seed that fell here lay uncovered, and was partly _trodden down_, and _partly devoured_ by the _fowls, Luke... [ Continue Reading ]
_The disciples_ Mark says, οι περι αυτον συν τοις δωδεκα, _those that were about him, with the twelve_, that is, not only the apostles, but such other well-disposed persons as generally attended on Christ's ministry, and were desirous of learning of him; _came_ to him, namely, when the assembly was... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore speak I to them in parables, because they seeing, see not_ In pursuance of this general rule, I do not give more knowledge to this people, because they use not that which they have already: having all the means of seeing, hearing, and understanding, they use none of them; they do not effe... [ Continue Reading ]
_But blessed are your eyes_, &c. For you both see and hear, and understand. You have not only greater opportunities of instruction than others, but you both know how to prize, and are concerned to improve them. _For verily I say unto you, That many prophets_ Who prophesied of the coming of the Messi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower_ A parable which our Lord judged to be so important that he introduced it with a double demand of attention, _Hearken, behold; Mark 4:3_; and concluded it with a third, and still more solemn demand thereof, _who hath ears to hear, let him hear;_ and here,... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that received the seed into stony_, rather, _rocky, places_ Where the bed of earth was very shallow, _is he that heareth the word_ Hears it with attention, and in a spirit of prayer, sincerely desiring that the eyes of his understanding may be opened; nay, and understands what he hears, and even... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that received seed among thorns is he that heareth the word_ And proceeds further in the way of duty than either of those mentioned in the former instances. In spite of Satan and his agents, the person here intended considers, marks, learns, and inwardly digests what he hears. Yea, he has _root... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that received seed into the good ground_ Described in note on verse eight, is _he that heareth the word and understandeth_, or, _considereth_ it Herein he differs from the first class of hearers: he understands what he hears, and makes it the matter of his serious and frequent meditation. And he... [ Continue Reading ]
_Another parable put he forth unto them_ In which he further explains the case of unfruitful hearers, and shows that persons of various characters would profess to receive the gospel, and be accounted members of the Christian Church; but that there should be a final separation between them in the ot... [ Continue Reading ]
_Another parable put he forth_ The two former parables relate chiefly to unfruitful hearers: the two that follow, to those who bear good fruit. _The kingdom of heaven_ Both the gospel dispensation in the world, and the kingdom of grace in the souls of true believers, especially the former; _is like... [ Continue Reading ]
_Another parable spake he unto them_ With a view still further to illustrate the progress of the gospel in the world, and of true religion in the soul. _The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman hid_ That is, covered up; _in three measures of meal_ Which seems to have been the quantit... [ Continue Reading ]
_All these things spake Jesus in parables_ Mark has it, _With many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to bear it._ That is, he preached the doctrines of the gospel in these and many other parables of a like nature, according as his hearers were able to receive them. _And wi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Jesus sent the multitude away_ The evening probably drawing on, for the people had now been long collected together: _and went_ From the vessel where he had been preaching; _into the house_ Probably a friend's house, that he might refresh himself a little: _and his disciples came, saying, Decl... [ Continue Reading ]
_As the tares are gathered_ At the command of the owner of the field; _and burnt in the fire_ So totally destroyed as never to revive and flourish again; _so shall it be at the end of the world_ With regard to the finally impenitent: their destruction, not their annihilation, shall be complete and e... [ Continue Reading ]
_Again_ The three following parables were proposed, not to the multitude, but peculiarly to the apostles: the two former of them relate to those who receive the gospel; the third, both to those who receive, and those who preach it. _The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field_ The kin... [ Continue Reading ]
_Again, the kingdom of heaven_ That is, one that earnestly seeks for it; _is like unto a merchant-man_, who goes about from one city or country to another, _seeking goodly_, or _beautiful pearls_, or jewels. Thus the sacred writers often compare and prefer wisdom, or true religion, to costly jewels.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net_, &c. The gospel preached to the world may be compared to a net _cast into the sea_, and _gathering_ fishes of _all kinds._ For by the preaching of it congregations are gathered, and a visible church is formed, and both good and bad men are brought to profes... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus saith, Have ye understood all these things?_ As well those parables of which I have given you no particular explication, as those that I have explained? Thus a conscientious teacher will sedulously inquire concerning the profiting of his hearers. _They say unto him, Yea, Lord_ We have underst... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Jesus had finished these parables_ Namely, those last mentioned, delivered in the house, which he added to the others spoken before in public; _he departed thence_, (see Mark 6:1,) and came once more _into his own country_ Namely, Nazareth: but with no better success than he had had there befo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whence then hath this man all these things?_ “This, like many other things that 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 be... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he did not_, (Mark says, _he could not do,_) _many mighty works, because of their unbelief_ On which words it has been justly observed, that they are not to be understood so strictly as if the power of Christ was here disarmed; but only, that as they brought but few sick people to him for a cur... [ Continue Reading ]