19 When any G3956 one heareth G191 the word G3056 of the kingdom, G932 and G2532 understandeth G4920 it not, G3361 then cometh G2064 the wicked G4190 one, and G2532 catcheth away G726 that which G3588 was sown G4687 in G1722 his G846 heart. G2588 This G3778 is G2076 he which received seed G4687 by G3844 the way side. G3598
Now G1161 the parable G3850 is G2076 this: G3778 The seed G4703 is G2076 the word G3056 of God. G2316 Those G1161 by G3844 the way side G3598 are G1526 they that hear; G191 then G1534 cometh G2064 the devil, G1228 and G2532 taketh away G142 the word G3056 out of G575 their G846 hearts, G2588 lest G3363 they should believe G4100 and be saved. G4982 G1161 They on G1909 the rock G4073 are they, which, G3739 when G3752 they hear, G191 receive G1209 the word G3056 with G3326 joy; G5479 and G2532 these G3778 have G2192 no G3756 root, G4491 which G3739 for G4314 a while G2540 believe, G4100 and G2532 in G1722 time G2540 of temptation G3986 fall away. G868 And G1161 that which fell G4098 among G1519 thorns G173 are G1526 they, G3778 which, when they have heard, G191 go forth, G4198 and G2532 are choked G4846 with G5259 cares G3308 and G2532 riches G4149 and G2532 pleasures G2237 of this life, G979 and G2532 bring G5052 no G3756 fruit to perfection. G5052 But G1161 that on G1722 the good G2570 ground G1093 are G1526 they, G3778 which G3748 in G1722 an honest G2570 and G2532 good G18 heart, G2588 having heard G191 the word, G3056 keep G2722 it, and G2532 bring forth fruit G2592 with G1722 patience. G5281
And G2532 Jesus G2424 went about G4013 all G3650 Galilee, G1056 teaching G1321 in G1722 their G846 synagogues, G4864 and G2532 preaching G2784 the gospel G2098 of the kingdom, G932 and G2532 healing G2323 all G3956 manner of sickness G3554 and G2532 all G3956 manner of disease G3119 among G1722 the people. G2992
And G1161 as he G846 reasoned G1256 of G4012 righteousness, G1343 temperance, G2532 G1466 and G2532 judgment G2917 to come, G3195 G1510 Felix G5344 trembled, G1096 G1719 and answered, G611 Go thy way G4198 for this time; G3568 when G1161 I have G2192 G3335 a convenient season, G2540 I will call for G3333 thee. G4571 He hoped G1679 also G260 G1161 G2532 that G3754 money G5536 should have been given G1325 him G846 of G5259 Paul, G3972 that G3704 he might loose G3089 him: G846 wherefore G1352 he sent for G3343 him G846 the oftener, G4437 and G2532 communed with G3656 him. G846
But G1161 had G2192 certain G5100 questions G2213 against G4314 him G846 of G4012 their own G2398 superstition, G1175 and G2532 of G4012 one G5100 Jesus, G2424 which was dead, G2348 whom G3739 Paul G3972 affirmed G5335 to be alive. G2198 And G1161 because I G1473 doubted G639 of G1519 such G5127 manner G4012 of questions, G2214 I asked G3004 him whether G1487 he would G1014 go G4198 to G1519 Jerusalem, G2419 and there G2546 be judged G2919 of G4012 these matters. G5130
And G2532 when they were gone aside, G402 they talked G2980 between G4314 themselves, G240 saying, G3004 G3754 This G3778 man G444 doeth G4238 nothing G3762 worthy G514 of death G2288 or G2228 of bonds. G1199 Then G1161 said G5346 Agrippa G67 unto Festus, G5347 This G3778 man G444 might G1410 have been set at liberty, G630 if G1508 he had G1941 not G1508 appealed unto G1941 Caesar. G2541
And G1161 when they had appointed G5021 him G846 a day, G2250 there came G2240 many G4119 to G4314 him G846 into G1519 his lodging; G3578 to whom G3739 he expounded G1620 and testified G1263 the kingdom G932 of God, G2316 G5037 persuading G3982 them G846 concerning G4012 Jesus, G2424 both G5037 out of G575 the law G3551 of Moses, G3475 and G2532 out of the prophets, G4396 from G575 morning G4404 till G2193 evening. G2073
And G2532 even as G2531 they did G1381 not G3756 like G1381 to retain G2192 God G2316 in G1722 their knowledge, G1922 God G2316 gave G3860 them G846 over G3860 to G1519 a reprobate G96 mind, G3563 to do G4160 those things which are G2520 not G3361 convenient; G2520
But G235 have renounced G550 the hidden things G2927 of dishonesty, G152 not G3361 walking G4043 in G1722 craftiness, G3834 nor G3366 handling G1389 the word G3056 of God G2316 deceitfully; G1389 but G235 by manifestation G5321 of the truth G225 commending G4921 ourselves G1438 to G4314 every G3956 man's G444 conscience G4893 in the sight G1799 of God. G2316 But G1161 if G1499 our G2257 gospel G2098 be G2076 hid, G2572 it is G2076 hid G2572 to G1722 them that are lost: G622
That G2443 they all G3956 might be damned G2919 who G3588 believed G4100 not G3361 the truth, G225 but G235 had pleasure G2106 in G1722 unrighteousness. G93
I write G1125 unto you, G5213 fathers, G3962 because G3754 ye have known G1097 him that is from G575 the beginning. G746 I write G1125 unto you, G5213 young men, G3495 because G3754 ye have overcome G3528 the wicked one. G4190 I write G1125 unto you, G5213 little children, G3813 because G3754 ye have known G1097 the Father. G3962 I have written G1125 unto you, G5213 fathers, G3962 because G3754 ye have known G1097 him that is from G575 the beginning. G746 I have written G1125 unto you, G5213 young men, G3495 because G3754 ye are G2075 strong, G2478 and G2532 the word G3056 of God G2316 abideth G3306 in G1722 you, G5213 and G2532 ye have overcome G3528 the wicked one. G4190
Not G3756 as G2531 Cain, G2535 who was G2258 of G1537 that wicked one, G4190 and G2532 slew G4969 his G846 brother. G80 And G2532 wherefore G5484 G5101 slew G4969 he him? G846 Because G3754 his own G846 works G2041 were G2258 evil, G4190 and G1161 his G846 brother's G80 righteous. G1342
And G1161 when they heard G191 of the resurrection G386 of the dead, G3498 some G3303 mocked: G5512 and G1161 others said, G2036 We will hear G191 thee G4675 again G3825 of G4012 this G5127 matter.
And G1161 this G3778 is G2076 the condemnation, G2920 that G3754 light G5457 is come G2064 into G1519 the world, G2889 and G2532 men G444 loved G25 darkness G4655 rather G3123 than G2228 light, G5457 because G1063 their G846 deeds G2041 were G2258 evil. G4190 For G1063 every one G3956 that doeth G4238 evil G5337 hateth G3404 the light, G5457 neither G2532 G3756 cometh G2064 to G4314 the light, G5457 lest G3363 his G846 deeds G2041 should be reproved. G1651
And G1161 these G3778 are they G1526 by G3844 the way side, G3598 where G3699 the word G3056 is sown; G4687 but G2532 when G3752 they have heard, G191 Satan G4567 cometh G2064 immediately, G2112 and G2532 taketh away G142 the word G3056 that was sown G4687 in G1722 their G846 hearts. G2588
Wherefore is there a price H4242 in the hand H3027 of a fool H3684 to get H7069 wisdom, H2451 seeing he hath no heart H3820 to it?
My son, H1121 if thou wilt receive H3947 my words, H561 and hide H6845 my commandments H4687 with thee; So that thou incline H7181 thine ear H241 unto wisdom, H2451 and apply H5186 thine heart H3820 to understanding; H8394 Yea, if thou criest H7121 after knowledge, H998 and liftest up H5414 thy voice H6963 for understanding; H8394 If thou seekest H1245 her as silver, H3701 and searchest H2664 for her as for hid treasures; H4301 Then shalt thou understand H995 the fear H3374 of the LORD, H3068 and find H4672 the knowledge H1847 of God. H430 For the LORD H3068 giveth H5414 wisdom: H2451 out of his mouth H6310 cometh knowledge H1847 and understanding. H8394
Wisdom H2454 crieth H7442 without; H2351 she uttereth H5414 her voice H6963 in the streets: H7339 She crieth H7121 in the chief place H7218 of concourse, H1993 in the openings H6607 of the gates: H8179 in the city H5892 she uttereth H559 her words, H561 saying, How long, ye simple ones, H6612 will ye love H157 simplicity? H6612 and the scorners H3887 delight H2530 in their scorning, H3944 and fools H3684 hate H8130 knowledge? H1847
The fear H3374 of the LORD H3068 is the beginning H7225 of knowledge: H1847 but fools H191 despise H936 wisdom H2451 and instruction. H4148
Unto me, G1698 who am less than the least G1647 of all G3956 saints, G40 is G1325 this G3778 grace G5485 given, G1325 that I should preach G2097 among G1722 the Gentiles G1484 the unsearchable G421 riches G4149 of Christ; G5547
And G1161 we know G1492 that G3754 the Son G5207 of God G2316 is come, G2240 and G2532 hath given G1325 us G2254 an understanding, G1271 that G2443 we may know G1097 him that is true, G228 and G2532 we are G2070 in G1722 him that is true, G228 even in G1722 his G846 Son G5207 Jesus G2424 Christ. G5547 This G3778 is G2076 the true G228 God, G2316 and G2532 eternal G166 life. G2222
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,