35 That G3704 it might be fulfilled G4137 which G3588 was spoken G4483 by G1223 the prophet, G4396 saying, G3004 I will open G455 my G3450 mouth G4750 in G1722 parables; G3850 I will utter G2044 things which have been kept secret G2928 from G575 the foundation G2602 of the world. G2889
I will open H6605 my mouth H6310 in a parable: H4912 I will utter H5042 dark sayings H2420 of old: H6924
And G2532 to make G5461 all G3956 men see G5461 what G5101 is the fellowship G2842 of the mystery, G3466 which G3588 from G575 the beginning of the world G165 hath been hid G613 in G1722 God, G2316 who G3588 created G2936 all things G3956 by G1223 Jesus G2424 Christ: G5547
Who verily G3303 was foreordained G4267 before G4253 the foundation G2602 of the world, G2889 but G1161 was manifest G5319 in G1909 these last G2078 times G5550 for G1223 you, G5209 Who G3588 by G1223 him G846 do believe G4100 in G1519 God, G2316 that raised G1453 him G846 up G1453 from G1537 the dead, G3498 and G2532 gave G1325 him G846 glory; G1391 that G5620 your G5216 faith G4102 and G2532 hope G1680 might be G1511 in G1519 God. G2316
But G235 we speak G2980 the wisdom G4678 of God G2316 in G1722 a mystery, G3466 even the hidden G613 wisdom, which G3739 God G2316 ordained G4309 before G4253 the world G165 unto G1519 our G2257 glory: G1391
Now G1161 to him that is of power G1410 to stablish G4741 you G5209 according G2596 to my G3450 gospel, G2098 and G2532 the preaching G2782 of Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 according G2596 to the revelation G602 of the mystery, G3466 which was kept secret G4601 since the world began, G5550 G166 But G1161 now G3568 is made manifest, G5319 and G5037 by G1223 the scriptures G1124 of the prophets, G4397 according G2596 to the commandment G2003 of the everlasting G166 God, G2316 made known G1107 to G1519 all G3956 nations G1484 for G1519 the obedience G5218 of faith: G4102
Father, G3962 I will G2309 that G2443 they also, G2548 whom G3739 thou hast given G1325 me, G3427 be G5600 with G3326 me G1700 where G3699 I G1473 am; G1510 that G2443 they may behold G2334 my G1699 glory, G1391 which G3739 thou hast given G1325 me: G3427 for G3754 thou lovedst G25 me G3165 before G4253 the foundation G2602 of the world. G2889
Then G5119 shall the King G935 say G2046 unto them on G1537 his G846 right hand, G1188 Come, G1205 ye blessed G2127 of my G3450 Father, G3962 inherit G2816 the kingdom G932 prepared G2090 for you G5213 from G575 the foundation G2602 of the world: G2889
Behold, the former things H7223 are come to pass, H935 and new things H2319 do I declare: H5046 before they spring forth H6779 I tell H8085 you of them.
And G2532 in G1909 them G846 is fulfilled G378 the prophecy G4394 of Esaias, G2268 which G3588 saith, G3004 By hearing G189 ye shall hear, G191 and G2532 shall G4920 not G3364 understand; G4920 and G2532 seeing G991 ye shall see, G991 and G2532 shall G1492 not G3364 perceive: G1492
The beast G2342 that G3739 thou sawest G1492 was, G2258 and G2532 is G2076 not; G3756 and G2532 shall G3195 ascend G305 out of G1537 the bottomless pit, G12 and G2532 go G5217 into G1519 perdition: G684 and G2532 they that dwell G2730 on G1909 the earth G1093 shall wonder, G2296 whose G3739 names G3686 were G1125 not G3756 written G1125 in G1909 the book G975 of life G2222 from G575 the foundation G2602 of the world, G2889 when they behold G991 the beast G2342 that was, G3748 G2258 and G2532 is G2076 not, G3756 and yet G2539 is. G2076
In G1909 hope G1680 of eternal G166 life, G2222 which G3739 God, G2316 that cannot lie, G893 promised G1861 before G4253 the world G166 began; G5550 But G1161 hath G5319 in due G2398 times G2540 manifested G5319 his G846 word G3056 through G1722 preaching, G2782 which G3739 is committed G4100 unto me G1473 according to G2596 the commandment G2003 of God G2316 our G2257 Saviour; G4990
Who G3588 hath saved G4982 us, G2248 and G2532 called G2564 us with an holy G40 calling, G2821 not G3756 according to G2596 our G2257 works, G2041 but G235 according to G2596 his own G2398 purpose G4286 and G2532 grace, G5485 which G3588 was given G1325 us G2254 in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus G2424 before G4253 the world began, G5550 G166 But G1161 is G5319 now G3568 made manifest G5319 by G1223 the appearing G2015 of our G2257 Saviour G4990 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 who G3303 hath abolished G2673 death, G2288 and G1161 hath brought G5461 life G2222 and G2532 immortality G861 to light G5461 through G1223 the gospel: G2098
Whereof G3739 I G1473 am made G1096 a minister, G1249 according to G2596 the dispensation G3622 of God G2316 which G3588 is given G1325 to me G3427 for G1519 you, G5209 to fulfil G4137 the word G3056 of God; G2316 Even the mystery G3466 which G3588 hath been hid G613 from G575 ages G165 and G2532 from G575 generations, G1074 but G1161 now G3570 is made manifest G5319 to his G846 saints: G40
But G4133 it shall be G2071 more tolerable G414 for Tyre G5184 and G2532 Sidon G4605 at G1722 the judgment, G2920 than G2228 for you. G5213
All G1161 G3650 this G5124 was done, G1096 that G2443 it might be fulfilled G4137 which G3588 was spoken G4483 by G1223 the prophet, G4396 saying, G3004 Tell ye G2036 the daughter G2364 of Sion, G4622 Behold, G2400 thy G4675 King G935 cometh G2064 unto thee, G4671 meek, G4239 and G2532 sitting G1910 upon G1909 an ass, G3688 and G2532 a colt G4454 the foal G5207 of an ass. G5268
Searching G2045 what, G1519 G5101 or G2228 what manner G4169 of time G2540 the Spirit G4151 of Christ G5547 which G3588 was in G1722 them G846 did signify, G1213 when it testified beforehand G4303 the sufferings G3804 of G1519 Christ, G5547 and G2532 the glory G1391 that should follow. G3326 G5023 Unto whom G3739 it was revealed, G601 that G3754 not G3756 unto themselves, G1438 but G1161 unto us G2254 they did minister G1247 the things, G846 which G3739 are G312 now G3568 reported G312 unto you G5213 by G1223 them that have preached the gospel G2097 unto you G5209 with G1722 the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 sent down G649 from G575 heaven; G3772 which things G3739 the angels G32 desire G1937 to look G3879 into. G1519
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,