16 But G1161 blessed G3107 are your G5216 eyes, G3788 for G3754 they see: G991 and G2532 your G5216 ears, G3775 for G3754 they hear. G191
And G2532 he turned him G4762 unto G4314 his disciples, G3101 and said G2036 privately, G2398 G2596 Blessed G3107 are the eyes G3788 which G3588 see G991 the things that G3739 ye see: G991 For G1063 I tell G3004 you, G5213 that G3754 many G4183 prophets G4396 and G2532 kings G935 have desired G2309 to see G1492 those things which G3739 ye G5210 see, G991 and G2532 have G1492 not G3756 seen G1492 them; and G2532 to hear G191 those things which G3739 ye hear, G191 and G2532 have G191 not G3756 heard G191 them.
And G2532 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and said G2036 unto him, G846 Blessed G3107 art thou, G1488 Simon G4613 Barjona: G920 for G3754 flesh G4561 and G2532 blood G129 hath G601 not G3756 revealed G601 it unto thee, G4671 but G235 my G3450 Father G3962 which G3588 is in G1722 heaven. G3772
That G2443 the God G2316 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 the Father G3962 of glory, G1391 may give G1325 unto you G5213 the spirit G4151 of wisdom G4678 and G2532 revelation G602 in G1722 the knowledge G1922 of him: G846 The eyes G3788 of your G5216 understanding G1271 being enlightened; G5461 that G1519 ye G5209 may know G1492 what G5101 is G2076 the hope G1680 of his G846 calling, G2821 and G2532 what G5101 the riches G4149 of the glory G1391 of his G846 inheritance G2817 in G1722 the saints, G40
For G3754 God, G2316 who G3588 commanded G2036 the light G5457 to shine G2989 out of G1537 darkness, G4655 G3739 hath shined G2989 in G1722 our G2257 hearts, G2588 to G4314 give the light G5462 of the knowledge G1108 of the glory G1391 of God G2316 in G1722 the face G4383 of Jesus G2424 Christ. G5547
Jesus G2424 saith G3004 unto him, G846 Thomas, G2381 because G3754 thou hast seen G3708 me, G3165 thou hast believed: G4100 blessed G3107 are they that have not G3361 seen, G1492 and G2532 yet have believed. G4100
To open G455 their G846 eyes, G3788 and to turn G1994 them from G575 darkness G4655 to G1519 light, G5457 and G2532 from the power G1849 of Satan G4567 unto G1909 God, G2316 that they G846 may receive G2983 forgiveness G859 of sins, G266 and G2532 inheritance G2819 among G1722 them which are sanctified G37 by faith G4102 that is in G1519 me. G1691
Blessed G3107 are the poor G4434 in spirit: G4151 for G3754 theirs G846 is G2076 the kingdom G932 of heaven. G3772 Blessed G3107 are they that mourn: G3996 for G3754 they G846 shall be comforted. G3870 Blessed G3107 are the meek: G4239 for G3754 they G846 shall inherit G2816 the earth. G1093 Blessed G3107 are they which G3588 do hunger G3983 and G2532 thirst G1372 after righteousness: G1343 for G3754 they G846 shall be filled. G5526 Blessed G3107 are the merciful: G1655 for G3754 they G846 shall obtain mercy. G1653 Blessed G3107 are the pure G2513 in heart: G2588 for G3754 they G846 shall see G3700 God. G2316 Blessed G3107 are the peacemakers: G1518 for G3754 they G846 shall be called G2564 the children G5207 of God. G2316 Blessed G3107 are they which are persecuted G1377 for G1752 righteousness' sake: G1343 for G3754 theirs G846 is G2076 the kingdom G932 of heaven. G3772 Blessed G3107 are ye, G2075 when G3752 men shall revile G3679 you, G5209 and G2532 persecute G1377 you, and G2532 shall say G2036 all manner G3956 of evil G4190 G4487 against G2596 you G5216 falsely, G5574 for my sake. G1752 G1700
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Matthew 13
Commentary on Matthew 13 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 13
In this chapter, we have,
Mat 13:1-23
We have here Christ preaching, and may observe,
To this question Christ answers largely, v. 11-17, where he tells them, that therefore he preached by parables, because thereby the things of God were made more plain and easy to them who were willingly ignorant; and thus the gospel would be a savour of life to some, and of death to others. A parable, like the pillar of cloud and fire, turns a dark side towards Egyptians, which confounds them, but a light side towards Israelites, which comforts them, and so answers a double intention. The same light directs the eyes of some, but dazzles the eyes of others. Now,
Now in this the scripture would be fulfilled, v. 14, 15. It is quoted from Isa. 6:9, 10. The evangelical prophet that spoke most plainly of gospel grace, foretold the contempt of it, and the consequences of that contempt. It is referred to no less than six times in the New Testament, which intimates, that in gospel times spiritual judgments would be most common, which make least noise, but are most dreadful. That which was spoken of the sinners in Isaiah's time was fulfilled in those in Christ's time, and it is still fulfilling every day; for while the wicked heart of man keeps up the same sin, the righteous hand of God inflicts the same punishment. Here is,
Note,
The parable of the sower is plain enough, v. 3-9. The exposition of it we have from Christ himself, who knew best what was his own meaning. The disciples, when they asked, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? (v. 10), intimated a desire to have the parable explained for the sake of the people; nor was it any disparagement to their own knowledge to desire it for themselves. Our Lord Jesus kindly took the hint, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the parable, directing his discourse to the disciples, but in the hearing of the multitude, for we have not the account of his dismissing them till v. 36. "Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower (v. 18); you have heard it, but let us go over it again.' Note, It is of good use, and would contribute much to our understanding the word and profiting by it, to hear over again what we have heard (Phil. 3:1); "You have heard it, but hear the interpretation of it.' Note, Then only we hear the word aright, and to good purpose, when we understand what we hear; it is no hearing at all, if it be not with understanding, Neh. 8:2. It is God's grace indeed that gives the understanding, but it is our duty to give our minds to understand.
Let us therefore compare the parable and the exposition.
Now observe the characters of these four sorts of ground.
Observe
Now what are these choking thorns?
Now that which distinguished this good ground from the rest, was, in one word, fruitfulness. By this true Christians are distinguished from hypocrites, that they bring forth the fruits of righteousness; so shall ye be my disciples, Jn. 15:8. He does not say that this good ground has no stones in it, or no thorns; but there were none that prevailed to hinder its fruitfulness. Saints, in this world, are not perfectly free from the remains of sin; but happily freed from the reign of it.
The hearers represented by the good ground are,
Mat 13:24-43
In these verses, we have,
Observe,
The disciples' request to their Master was, Declare unto us the parable of the tares. This implied an acknowledgement of their ignorance, which they were not ashamed to make. It is probable they apprehended the general scope of the parable, but they desired to understand it more particularly, and to be assured that they took it right. Note, Those are rightly disposed for Christ's teaching, that are sensible of their ignorance, and sincerely desirous to be taught. He will teach the humble (Ps. 25:8, 9), but will for this be enquired of. If any man lack instruction, let him ask it of God. Christ had expounded the foregoing parable unasked, but for the exposition of this they ask him. Note, The mercies we have received must be improved, both for direction what to pray for, and for our encouragement in prayer. The first light and the first grace are given in a preventing way, further degrees of both which must be daily prayed for.
Let us go over the particulars of the exposition of the parable.
Now concerning the sowing of the tares, observe in the parable,
In the explanation of the parable, this is gloriously represented (v. 43); Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
Now concerning the work of the gospel, observe,
Mat 13:44-52
We have four short parables in these verses.
Note,
Mat 13:53-58
We have here Christ in his own country. He went about doing good, yet left not any place till he had finished his testimony there at that time. His own countrymen had rejected him once, yet he came to them again. Note, Christ does not take refusers at their first word, but repeats his offers to those who have often repulsed them. In this, as in other things, Christ was like his brethren; he had a natural affection to his own country; Patriam quisque amat, non quia pulchram, sed quia suam-Every one loves his country, not because it is beautiful, but because it is his own. Seneca. His treatment this time was much the same as before, scornful and spiteful. Observe,