7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundred fold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

of the sower.

7 they withered away. And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns grew up, and 8 choked them: and others fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a 9 hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He that hath ears, let him hear.

10

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in 11 parables? And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, 12 but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even 13 that which he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither 14 do they understand. And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand;

15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with 15 their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

18

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

18

And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no
wise perceive:

For this people's heart is waxed gross,
And their ears are dull of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed;

Lest haply they should perceive with
their eyes,

And hear with their ears,

And understand with their heart,
And should turn again,

And I should heal them.

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see; 17 and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not. Hear then ye the parable of 19 the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the evil one, and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by 20 the way side. And he that was sown upon the rocky places, this is he that heareth the word, and straightway with joy re21 ceiveth it; yet hath he not root in him

1 Some ancient authorities add here, and in verse 43, to hear: as in Mark 4:9; Luke 8:8.

11. Unto you it is given to know, etc. Christ's disciples, by looking to him in faith, had the mysteries of the new dispensation explained to them. The rest of the Jews, by rejecting Christ, could not be so favored.

12. Whosoever hath, etc. This is the rule of grace. If a little is accepted, more is given. The "hath," and "hath not," do not represent original conditions, but acquired conditions. The subjects have either accepted or rejected grace. Even that which he hath; i.c., his opportunities.

13. Therefore. Here is the application of the above rule. Because they see not and hear not (a wilful blindness and deafness- a rejection), therefore parables are given them, which, though they will not understand, will be full of instruction to the disciples who search the Saviour's words.

14. The prophecy of Isaiah. This prophecy (Isa. 6: 9, 10) is quoted, besides by the synoptics in this connec. ton, in John 12: 40, and Acts 28: 26. It is the prophetic style in Isaiah, the use of imperatives for futures. The prophet is commanded to make an effect, when all that is intended is that he shall predict an effect. Matthew trans. lates the imperatives into futures, showing this prophetic usage. Just so God is said to harden the heart, because the event is permitted in his wisdom. God (and his prophet) does, what he permits, in his holy, just, and righteous plan, to be done.

15. Lest haply they should. Rather, "So that they should not at all." God was not afraid that they would repeat, and therefore interposed to prevent this (as the use of "lest" would suggest), but he permitted their wilfulness to operate, so that they should not perceive and turn. They did not wish to repent. It was not God who did not wish them to repent. The Lord does not wish that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9).

19. The evil one. Called, in the parallel passages in the other Gospels, "Satan" (Hcb. for "adversary") and "the Devil" (Gr. for "accuser "). He that was sown. In this parable the seed is not the word only, but the man and word united. The man is sown by the wayside, and the word is sown in his heart. The evil one, by snatching away the word, really snatcheth away the man as his prey. In the second case, the sun of persecution burus the

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

24 ¶ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his

27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

24

25

sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed 2 tares also among the wheat, 26 and went away. But when the blade sprang up, and brought forth fruit, then 27 appeared the tares also. And the 3 servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it tares? And he said unto them, An enemy hath done this. And the servants say unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather

28

29 But he said Nay; lest while ye gather up the 29 them up? But he saith, Nay; lest haply

tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in

his field:

32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

33¶ Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

while ye gather up the tares, ye root up 30 the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

31

32

33

34

Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like man took, and sowed in his field: which unto a grain of mustard seed, which a indeed is less than all seeds; but when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the heaven come and lodge in the branches thereof.

Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.

5

All these things spake Jesus in parables unto the multitudes; and without a parable spake he nothing unto them:

1 Or, age. 2 Or, darnel. 3 Gr. bond-servants. 4 Gr. A man that is an enemy. 5 The word in the Greek denetes the Hebrew seah, a measure containing nearly a peck and a half.

word out, and the man withers. In the third case, the thorns choke the word, and the man hence is unfruitful. All of the cases hear the word, so that the man and word represent the seed; but only the fourth case understands the word. This is the intimate union of the man and word produced by the good ground of faith.

24. The kingdom of heaven is likened. An abbreviated expression for "The working of the kingdom of heaven may be thus represented: A man," etc. This loose way of speech is common (see chap. 18:23, and 25:1). Good seed. Our Saviour says, these are the sons of the kingdom (verse 38). Compare the parable of the sower, as above explained.

25. Tares. The tare is a plant of the genus Lolium, called "darnel." The Greek word is zizanion. It is also called in Greek, aira. It grows as a weed among wheat; and, until it come into car, it is very similar in appearance to wheat.

30. Let both grow together until the harvest. In the light of our Lord's interpretation (verse 39) we see that the kingdom of heaven is not free from including within it the sons of the evil one until the end of the world (or "consummation of the age," as the margin gives it). Any attempt, therefore, to make a perfectly pure church now is chimerical. We can only use a holy care and prudence to make it as pure as we can.

33. Leaven. The fermenting matter by which bread is made light. It is generally used as a symbol of evil, as in chap. 16: 6, and some would have it so here; but the general tenor of this chapter seems to forbid this interpreta tion. The first parable showed the fruitfulness of the good ground of faith; the second showed the presence of evil in the church, which shall not harm the good; the third showed the marvellous expansion of the church; and the

35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

42 And shall çast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman, seeking goodly pearls:

46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought

it.

47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

35

36

39

of the pearl, and of the net.

that it might be fulfilled which was spoken 1 by the prophet, saying,

I will open my mouth in parables;

I will utter things hidden from the foundation 2 of the world.

Then he left the multitudes, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain unto us the 37 parable of the tares of the field. And he answered and said, He that soweth the 38 good seed is the Son of man; and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reap40 ers are angels. As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall 41 it be in the end of the world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear.

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in the field; which a man found, and hid; and in his joy he goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a merchant seeking goodly pearls: and having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach; and they sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but the bad they cast away. 49 So shall it be in the end of the world:

the angels shall come forth, and sever the 50 wicked from among the righteous, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. 52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every 51 scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

52

Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea. And he said unto them, Therefore every scribe who hath been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a 4 Or, for joy

1 Or, through. Many ancient authorities omit of the world. 3 Or, the consummation of the age. thereof. Gr. drag-net.

fourth, the hidden processes of that expansion. Three measures. Literally, three sata, or seahs, a common phrase for one ephah, about a bushel and a half.

35. By the prophet. Asaph, who wrote the seventy-eighth psalm. The mystic character of that psalm coneists in its giving the history of Israel as a type of the history of God's church. Jesus, in telling the story of the future church by parables, was fulfilling Asaph's opening verses.

39. The end of the world. In margin, "the consummation of the age." The end of the present dispensation. 42. The weeping and gnashing of teeth. Rather, "the weeping and the gnashing of teeth." So at chap. 8: 12 and elsewhere. The definite article probably makes the reference to Ps. 112: 10.

44. Hidden-found. The man comes upon it by accident. Then he seeks to gain possession.

45. Seeking. The man is seeking when he finds. He then acts like the other. The nobler soul is longing and seeking for God's truth. But both, on seeing it, have faith in it, and give up all for it.

47. A net, etc. This parable seems to be equivalent to that of the tares, looking, however, chiefly at the value of the two kinds. The first series of parables regarded the growth of the kingdom, and this second series the preciousness of the kingdom, each ending with the final separation of the bad from the good.

52. The teacher of religion (scribe), becoming a disciple of the kingdom of the Messiah, mingles the types of the old economy and the antitypes of the new in his teaching.