Bible Commentaries
Matthew 13

Verse 1

The same day. Greek. en The day referred to in Matthew 12:46-50 .

Jesus. App-98 .

out of the house. The teaching from verses: Matthew 13:3-35 was public; from verses: Matthew 13:36-52 was within the house, in private, out of. Greek. apo, as in Matthew 12:43 . But Tr. reads [ ek ] and apo in margin WH omit apo and read ek in margin L and T read ek (104. vii.) in text.

the house: or His house, at Capernaum (Matthew 9:28 ). App-169 .

sat = was sitting.

by . . . side = beside. Greek. para .

Verse 2

gathered together. Not the same as in verses: Matthew 13:28 , Matthew 13:29 , Matthew 13:30 , Mat 28:40 , Mat 28:41 , Mat 28:48 , but same as in verses: Matthew 13:30 , Matthew 13:47 .

into. Greek. eis.

a = the. See notes on Matthew 4:21 ; Matthew 8:23 .

on. Greek. epi.

Verse 3

many things. Some of these parables were repeated (and varied) on other occasions. There are no "discrepancies".

in = by. Greek. en . App-104 .

parables. Here, eight (not "seven" as sometimes alleged) are selected for the special purpose of the Holy Spirit in this Gospel. See App-96 and App-145 .

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

a sower = the sower. As these eight parables relate to "the Kingdom of the Heavens" ( App-114 ), the sowing must relate to the proclamation of it (Matthew 13:19 ): (1) by John, "the wayside", Matthew 3:2 , Matthew 3:5 , Matthew 3:6 ; (2) by Christ, the Twelve, and the Seventy, "the stony ground", Matthew 4:12 , Mat 4:26 , Mat 4:35 ; (3) by the Twelve in the land, and Paul in the synagogues of the Dispersion (the Acts); (4) still future (Matthew 24:14 ) and on "good", because prepared ground. See App-140 ., and 145.

Verse 4

when he sowed = in (as in Matthew 13:3 ): in his sowing.

some = some indeed.

way side. The part of the field beside the way.

fowls = birds.

Verse 5

Some = And some.

stony places = rocky or broken land.

not much earth. Not depth enough of earth.

forthwith = immediately.

because = through (Greek. dia.) not having depth of earth.

Verse 7

among = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .

Verse 8

into = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .

good ground = the ground, the good [ground]. Good, because prepared.

brought forth. All the verbs are in past tenses.

Verse 9

Who: i.e. Him who hears.

Verse 11

He = And He.

is given = hath been given: i.e. is permanently given.

to know = to get to know. Greek. ginosko. App-132 .

the mysteries = the secrets; or the things hitherto kept secret.

of = belonging to. Genitive of Relation. App-17 .

the kingdom of heaven. See App-114 .

heaven = the heavens (plural) See notes on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

it is not given = it hath not been given.

Verse 12

whosoever. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus). whosoever hath, &c. Figure of speech Paroemia. Compare Matthew 25:29 .

have more abundance = be made to abound.

Verse 13

Therefore = On this account. Greek. dia touto. See App-104 .Matthew 13:2 .

seeing see . . . hearing . . . hear. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 .

Verse 14

in = upon. Greek. epi .

fulfilled = is fulfilling. See Isaiah 6:9 . Compare John 12:40 . Acts 28:26 .

Esaias = Isaiah. Quoted from Isaiah 6:9 , Isaiah 6:10 . Compare the other two: John 12:39 . Acts 28:25-27 .

not = by no means. Gr . ou me. See App-105 .

Verse 15

waxed gross = grown fat.

see. Greek. blepo. App-133 .

be converted = be turned to [the Lord].

Verse 16

blessed = happy, as in Matthew 5:3 , &c.

your eyes . . . your ears = ye. "Eyes" and "ears" being put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , for the persons themselves.

Verse 17

verily. See note on Matthew 5:18 .

have desired = desired [earnestly].

to see = to

get a sight of. Greek. eidon. App-133 .

ye see = ye are seeing. Greek. bllepo .

have not seen = never saw.

seen. Greek. eidon .

have not heard = never heard.

Verse 19

the word of the kingdom: i.e. the proclamation of its having drawn nigh, as in Matthew 3:2 ; Matthew 4:17 . Acts 2:28 ; Acts 3:19-26 .

word. Greek. logos.

the wicked one = the evil [one]. See App-128 .

received. Compare Acts 2:41 . 1 Thessalonians 2:13 . Not the same word in Greek, but the same truth.

Verse 20

anon = immediately. The same word as "by and by" in Matthew 13:21 .

Verse 21

but dureth for a while = but is temporary, or endureth but for a season.

by and by = immediately. Same word as "anon". Matthew 13:20 . The offence is as immediate as the joy.

is offended = stumbles.

Verse 22

among. Greek. eis . App-104 . Not the same word as in Matthew 13:5 .

is he = this is he.

world = age. Greek. aion. See App-129 .

he = it.

Verse 23

which also = who indeed.

and bringeth forth = produceth also.

some = some indeed.

some = but other.

Verse 24

Another. Greek. alos. App-124 . The parables spoken outside (Matthew 13:1 ) are introduced thus; those within the house by the word "again" (Matthew 13:36 ): marking off the Structure p. 1336; and App-144 .

The kingdom of heaven. See App-114 .

heaven = the heavens. See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

Verse 25

slept. App-171 .

sowed = sowed upon [and therefore among]. Greek. epispeiro = sowed. Occurs only here. All the texts read "sowed over".

tares. Greek. zizania (Occurs only in this chapter, verses: Matthew 13:25 , Matthew 13:36 .) Not "darnel" (the Lolium temulentum of naturalists), but zewan as known to-day in Palestine. While growing it looks like wheat, but when full grown the ears are long and the grains almost black. Each grain of zewan must be removed before grinding wheat, or the bread is bitter and poisonous. Wheat is golden; but tares show their true colour as they ripen.

among = in (Greek. ana,) the midst.

went his way. He had no doubt as to the result. Nor should those have doubt who sow "the good seed" of the Word of God. They should have as much confidence in their sowing as the "enemy" had in his; and go their way, and sow more.

Verse 26

appeared. Greek. phaino. App-106 .

Verse 27

servants = bondservants.

householder = master of the house. See App-98 .

Sir. Greek. kurios.

Verse 28

He = And he.

An enemy = A man an enemy. Figure of speech Pleonasm ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

hath done = did.

Wilt. Greek. thelo . See App-102 .

gather them up? = collect them together?

Verse 29

Nay. Greek. ou. App-105 .

ye gather up = [while] gathering them together.

Verse 30

grow together. Greek. sunauxanomai. Occurs only here.

reapers. Greek. theristes. Occurs only here, and in Matthew 13:39 .

in = into. Greek. eis.

bundles. Greek. desme. Occurs only here, in this form.

to burn = in order to burn.

Verse 32

the least = less indeed.

of all seeds. Supply the Ellipsis from Matthew 13:31 = "than all the seeds [that a man sows in his field]".

it is grown = it shall or may have grown. This growth is contrary to nature: to show that it symbolizes an unnatural result, with its consequences.

the greatest among herbs = greater than [garden] herbs.

the air = the heaven (singular)

lodge = perch.

Verse 33

leaven = sour dough. Always used in a bad sense, as meal is in a good sense: therefore the common interpretation as to the Gospel's improving the world is the exact contrary of the leaven corrupting the whole of the meal. The same is true of the symbol of the "woman", see below. The Lord mentions three kinds of leaven, all of which were evil in their working: the leaven (1) of the Pharisees = hypocrisy or formalism (Luke 12:1 ); (2) of the Pharisees and Sadducees = evil doctrine or teaching (Matthew 16:11 , Matthew 16:12 ); (3) of Herod = political religion, or worldliness (Mark 8:15 ). Compare also Gen 19:3 . 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 . 1Co 23:14 , 1Co 23:16 , 1Co 23:23-28 .

a woman. A common symbol of evil in the moral or religious spheres. See Zechariah 5:7 , Zechariah 5:8 . Revelation 2:20 ; Revelation 17:1-6 .

hid. Compare Matthew 13:44 , and see the Structure. App-145 .

leavened = corrupted.

Verse 34

multitude = multitudes (plural).

spake He not = was He not speaking.

Verse 35

That = So that.

fulfilled. Quoted from Psalms 78:2 . See App-107 and App-117 .

by = by means of. Greek. dia. App-104 .Matthew 13:1 .

utter = pour forth. Greek. ereugomai. Occurs only here.

from the foundation of the world. Note the seven occurrences of this expression (here; Matthew 25:34 .Luke 11:50 . Hebrews 4:3 ; Hebrews 9:6 . Revelation 13:8 ; Revelation 17:8 ). Contrast "before the overthrow", &c. (John 17:24 .Ephesians 1:4 . 1 Peter 1:20 ).

foundation = overthrow. See Genesis 1:2 . App-146 .

world. Greek. kosmos. App-129 .

Verse 36

went into the house. This determines the Structure, on p. 1336.

the house. Peter's house.

Declare = Expound. Greek. phrazo. Occurs only here, and in Matthew 15:15 .

Verse 37

the Son of man. See App-98 . Compare Matthew 8:20 . Here the Lord is explaining the parable.

Verse 38

are = these are: i.e. represent. Figure of speech Metaphor. App-6 .

children = sons. App-108 .

Verse 39

the end of the world = the end of the age, age-time, or dispensation. The expression occurs six times (here, verses: Matthew 13:40 , Matthew 13:49 , Matthew 13:3 ; Matthew 28:20 . Hebrews 9:26 ), always in this sense.

end. Greek. sunteleia (not " telos ") = closing time, denoting the joining of two age-times: i.e. the closing time of one leading on to the other. The sunteleia mark the closing period, while telos marks the actual and final end.

the angels = angels. In Matthew 13:41 "His angels".

Verse 40

this world = this [present] age-time (compare verses: Matthew 13:22 , Matthew 13:39 ).

Verse 41

out of. Greek. ek.

offend = cause offence, or stumbling.

iniquity = lawlessness.

Verse 42

a furnace = the furnace, as in Matthew 13:50 .

wailing and gnashing. See note on Matthew 8:12 .

gnashing = the grinding.

Verse 43

shine forth. Greek. eklampo. Occurs only here.

the kingdom, &c. See App-112 .

Who hath, &c. See note on Matthew 11:15 . See App-142 .

Verse 44

Again. This word marks and links together the last three parables. See the Structure, p. 1336 ( App-145 ), and note on "another", Matthew 13:24 .

hid = lying hidden. Compare Matthew 13:33 and Matthew 13:35 .

for = from. Greek. apo.

buyeth. Not the word for "redeem". See note on 2 Peter 2:1 .

Verse 45

a merchant man = a man, a merchant. Compare Matthew 13:28 , "an enemy".

Verse 47

a net = a drag-net, or seine. Greek. sagene. Occurs only here.

of = out of. Greek. ek. App-104 .

Verse 48

drew = drew up. Greek. anabibazo. Occurs only here.

to shore = upon (Greek. epi.) the shore.

the bad = the useless: i.e. the cat-fish, plentiful in the Sea of Galilee.

away = out.

Verse 49

at = in, as in Matthew 13:3 .

come forth = go out. The Lord was speaking on earth.

sever = separate.

wicked = evil ones. Greek plural of poneros. App-128 .

from among. Greek. ek

just = righteous ones.

Verse 51

Jesus saith unto them. All the texts omit this clause.

Lord. All the texts omit "Lord" here.

Verse 52

instructed = discipled, or initiated as a disciple.

unto. All the texts omit eis ( App-104 .), L reads en , reading "in the kingdom", for "unto the kingdom".

an householder = a man a householder. Figure of speech Pleonasm ( App-6 ), for emphasis. See Matthew 13:27 .

new = new (in character). Greek. kainos ; not neos, which = new (in time). See notes on Matthew 9:17 ; Matthew 26:28 , Matthew 26:29 .

Verse 53

finished. Thus marking the end of this special collocation of parables, showing them to he one whole.

departed. Greek. metairo. Occurs only here and Matthew 19:1 ; referring probably to His going by water.

Verse 54

taught = was teaching

synagogue. See App-120 .

this = this [fellow].

mighty works. Plural of dunamis. App-172 .

Verse 55

and. Note the Figure of speech P olysyndeton ( App-6 ), emphasizing each one individually.

Verse 56

with Greek. pros.

Verse 57

offended = stumbled.

in = at. Greek. en .

his own house. His own family: "house" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the family dwelling within it.