_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 ]