Matthew 13

Notes

Ver. 10-15. Our Saviour taught much in parables. (1) That he might fulfil Old Testament predictions, Ps. 78. 1, 2; 49. 3, 4; ver. 34, 35. (2) That, in manifesting the spiritual turn of his own mind, he might set us an example to improve everything as a mean of spiritual instruction, Jn. 3. 12, 13. (3) That he might the more effectually reprove the Jews, without putting them into a rage, ch. 21. 28-46. (4) That he might the more easily instruct the attentive and thoughtful in a manner, much used in the East, delightful to the mind and helpful to the memory, Ho. 12. 10. (5) That he might sadly permit the blindness and ruin of such as hated instruction, ver. 13, 3-9, 18-23. The parable of the soils or sower represents the different issues of the gospel ministrations on different sorts of hearers, and the causes of them. The sower is Jesus Christ, by himself and his ministers, painfully, carefully, and faithfully preaching gospel truths, which, like good seed, are precious, uncorrupted, and calculated to produce fruits of faith and holiness, glory to God, and eternal happiness to men. The wayside denotes careless hearers, who never seriously regard or think about those divine truths which they hear; while the devil and his agents divert their mind with other thoughts, to make them entirely forget them. The stony ground denotes them who hear the gospel with some delightful conceptions of its glories, sudden flashes of joy in their affections, and some slight purposes and desires towards that which is good; but, their hearts never being savingly renewed, they do not receive it by faith and love, as an abiding and governing principle of action; and hence, whenever they meet with violent and lasting temptations or persecutions for the sake of religion, they apostatize from it. The thorny ground denotes them who hear the gospel with remarkable attention; and are so affected by it that, for a considerable time, they appear to make progress in the knowledge, profession, and practice of religion; but at last their cares about worldly things, and expectations and desires of happiness in them, and their eager pursuits after riches and pleasures, so entangle, deceive, and overset them, that they never attain to any true holiness of heart or life. The good ground denotes those hearers who receive the truths of the gospel into their hearts, renewed by the Spirit of God, and, through the daily influences of his grace, improve them to their spiritual fruitfulness in holy dispositions, thoughts, words, and actions, in different degrees. 24-30, 36-43. The sowing of the good seed represents Christ as planting his grace in the hearts of men by the ministry of the gospel, to render them true members of his church; these, in due time, discover themselves by their open profession of their faith, and by their holy practice. The tares denote hypocritical professors or ministers; these Satan, especially in a time of prosperity, and when ministers and people are unwatchful, secretly raises up in the church, and causes gradually to discover themselves. It is a grief to the faithful servants and people of Christ to see the gospel so perverted and abused by any of its preachers or professors, to the introducing of errors and immoralities into the church or world; and yet, till the harvest of the last judgment, such can never be wholly separated from the godly and faithful. 31, 32. The marvellous growth of the grain of mustard-seed represents Christ's gospel and church in the world, and his grace in the soul; extremely small and obscure in their beginnings, but gradually increasing, till they fill the heart, and even the earth; so that both Jews and Gentiles find refreshment and rest in them. 33. The hidden leaven, affecting three measures of meal, represents Christ's gospel and grace implanted in the hearts of men, and secretly working with such divine efficacy as to sanctify all the faculties of the soul and members of the body, and gradually spreading themselves through all nations, to captivate them to the obedience of faith. 44. The treasure hid in the field, &c., represents Christ and the rich blessings of the gospel as lying hid in the oracles of God from carnal men; but when manifested by the Spirit, eagerly apprehended, and joyfully received into the heart, and an interest in them esteemed so valuable that a man is ready to part with all things in the world to enjoy fellowship therein through the Word. 45, 46. The pearl of great price denotes Christ and his inestimable blessings, which, being once discovered by earnest seekers after true happiness, renders them willing to part with all the riches and enjoyments of this world rather than not obtain a property therein. 47-50. The net cast into the sea, &c., represents the gospel as laboriously and faithfully preached in this confused, wicked, and unquiet world, and as being the mean of gathering multitudes, some saints and some hypocrites, into a visible church state, in which they shall remain connected till the angels make an awful separation between them in the last judgment. 52. The householder represents preachers treasuring up divine truths in their minds and hearts, that, out of the Old and New Testaments, and out of their new and old instructions, observations, and experiences, they may seasonably and profitably bring forth doctrines suited to all persons and cases.

Ver. 3. The parables of our Lord are short descriptions of natural objects or events; the several parts of which are employed to illustrate some corresponding spiritual truth. With one single exception—that of the rich man and Lazarus—all are confined within the limits of this world. Our Lord commenced his preaching by plain exposition of the Word, and unsparing correction and reproof of the Pharisaic perversions of Scripture. This method gave offence; wherefore he, who 'knew what was in man,' changes his mode of address, by which prejudice was less excited, attention secured, and truth insinuated by the aid of curiosity. C.

Ver. 11. Mysteries are not truths beyond the reach of the understanding, but something hidden or withheld and therefore unknown in whole or in part. Here, and elsewhere, 'a mystery' denotes something disclosed to certain persons prepared to comprehend and receive it, but withheld from the multitude, whose prejudices would have been excited by a plainer exposition, and would consequently have been driven from the means of instruction. C.

Ver. 19. Catcheth away, &c. The simplest illustration of this satanic robbery may be seen in the attempts to seduce our Lord, ch. iv.: (1) By appetite. (2) By false quotation and perversion of Scripture. (3) By ambition. And as water poured into a vessel of oil will soon expel it and occupy its room, so any of these infused into the mind will soon expel the word of truth from the attention, the memory, the understanding, and the affections. C.

Ver. 27. Tares. The word zizania, erroneously translated tares, does not occur elsewhere in Scripture, nor in any ancient Greek writer. The most probable interpretation is 'darnel,' the Lolium temulentum of Linnæus. Forskal says it grows abundantly at Aleppo; and that if the seed remain mixed with the wheat, the bread causes dizziness and sickness. The darnel is common in light soils throughout Europe, and possesses the same deleterious properties ascribed to it by Forskal. C.

Ver. 39. The enemy . . . is the devil. To deny the individuality of the devil, and to represent him, not as a spirit, but as a mere abstract principle of evil, is not uncommon. But the contrast here between the devil and the angels must either reduce the angels to 'abstract principles,' or declare the devil to be an actual 'evil spirit.' But as the personal character of angels is, to all but sadducees, beyond dispute, so must the personal character of the devil be equally evident to all, except those, his servants, who question his existence, that they may best, because most covertly, promote his power. C.

Ver. 46. The pearl is a round substance found in a species of oyster; and is supposed by some naturalists to be always the product of disease. It is also found in a species of fresh-water mussel. The pearls commonly seen in Europe are of a peculiar white; but the pearls most highly valued in the East are said to be of a reddish tinge. As a specimen of their 'great price' about the time of our Lord, it is recorded that Cleopatra of Egypt dissolved in vinegar and swallowed a pearl at supper valued at £50,000. C.

Ver. 55, 56. The words 'brethren and sisters' do not, in Hebrew usage, necessarily imply that the persons so called were the children of Joseph and Mary: but the silence of the speakers about any other relation naturally leads to the conclusion that they were literally our Lord's brethren and sisters. Jerome and others, however, think they were merely his cousins, the children of his mother's sister, the wife of Cleophas. It matters not. Be it as it may, Rome gains no advantage. Mary, a creature, though 'always virgin,' may not be worshipped instead of the Creator. C.

Reflections.—Astonishing was the care, the condescension, the labours of our Redeemer, to instruct men in the important truths of the gospel. And inestimably valuable and useful is his gospel, especially in its New Testament dispensation. As seed, it produces saints and good works; as leaven, it happily impregnates and captivates our hearts; as a treasure and a pearl, its blessings enrich and deck us for time and eternity; and as a net, it draws us to him, his church, and his throne. It is openly preached to all sorts of sinful men. But, through the want of inward principles of grace, the temptations of Satan, and influence of the world, how diversified is its success! While God, in his wisdom, bestows his tender and blessed grace, it is to some, through their obstinacy and perverseness, the occasion of blindness and the savour of death, and to others the mean of light and the savour of life. Nor can men expect true blessedness unless they really understand it. But, alas! many, by their careless hearing, tempt Satan to carry away gospel truths from their memories, understandings, or consciences. And many, though better than others, rest short of the one thing needful. Never in this world will Satan and indwelling lusts suffer either hearts or churches to be perfectly pure. And never are either more ready to be fearfully infected than in a time of sloth, unwatchfulness, and outward prosperity. But dreadful is their destruction who, after a profession and some experience of gospel truth, die in their sins. Let me therefore take heed how I have received and heard; and think, as a member of the church, what I am. If grace be really found in my heart, it may continue and grow notwithstanding all opposition. And if Jesus Christ be my roof, my righteousness, my riches, my ornament, great, inexpressibly great, shall be my everlasting happiness and honour! While millions are connected together in their additional misery, and are sorrowing in hell, I, with the ransomed of the Lord, shall triumph in the praises of his glorious grace!—But, alas! how many, by their unbelieving prejudices against the Redeemer, obstruct their own salvation! And none are more ready to do so than they who have long, without effect, enjoyed distinguished means of grace.