Matthew 13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:22

Verse 22 22.And he who received the seed among thorns. He places in the third class, those who would have been disposed to receive the seed within, if they had not permitted other things to corrupt and render it degenerate. Christ compares to thorns the pleasures of this life, or wicked desires, and covetousness, and the other anxieties of the flesh. Matthew mentions only the care of this life, along with covetousness, but the meaning is the same; for under that term he includes the allurements... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:23

Verse 23 23.But he that received the seed into a good soil. None are compared by Christ to a good and fertile soil, but those in whom the word of God not only strikes its roots deep and solid, but overcomes every obstacle that would prevent it from yielding fruit. Is it objected that it is impossible to find any one who is pure and free from thorns? It is easy to reply, that Christ does not now speak of the perfection of faith, but only points out those in whom the word of God yields fruit.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:24

Verse 24 In order to reap the advantage of this parable, it is necessary to ascertain the object which Christ had in view. Some think that, to guard a mixed multitude against satisfying themselves with an outward profession of the Gospel, (209) he told them, that in his own field bad seed is often mixed with the good, but that a day is coming, when the tares shall be separated from the wheat. (210) They accordingly connect this parable with the one immediately preceding, as if the design of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:31

Verse 31 By these parables Christ encourages his disciples not to be offended and turn back on account of the mean beginnings of the Gospel. We see how haughtily profane men despise the Gospel, and even turn it into ridicule, because the ministers by whom it is preached are men of slender reputation and of low rank; because it is not instantly received with applause by the whole world; and because the few disciples whom it does obtain are, for the most part, men of no weight or consideration,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:34

Verse 34 Matthew 13:34.All these things Jesus spoke in parables. Though Mark expressly says, that Christ spoke the word to them as they were able to bear it, yet I think it probable that he continued to employ parables, not so much for the purpose of instruction, as to keep the attention of his hearers awake till a more convenient time. For why did he explain them familiarly to his disciples when they were apart? Was it because they were more slow of apprehension than the great body of the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:35

Verse 35 35.That it might be fulfilled Matthew does not mean, that the psalm, which he quotes, is a prediction which relates peculiarly to Christ, but that, as the majesty of the Spirit was displayed in the discourse of the Prophet, in the same manner was his power manifested in the discourse of Christ. The Prophet, when he is about to speak of God’s covenant, by which he adopted the seed of Abraham, of the benefits which he continued to bestow upon his people, and of the whole government of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:37

Verse 37 37.He that soweth the good seed He had formerly said that the kingdom of heaven resembles a man sowing. The mode of expression is unusual, but plainly means, that the same thing happens with the preaching of the Gospel as usually takes place in the sowing of fields; the tares grow, up along with the wheat One peculiarity, however, is pointed out by him, when he says that the sowing of tares in the field was effected by the trick of an enemy. This is intended to inform us that, when... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:39

Verse 39 39.The harvest is the end of the world. This is, no doubt, a very distressing consideration, that the Church is burdened with the reprobate to the very end of the world; but Christ enjoins on us to exercise patience till that time, that we may not deceive ourselves with a vain hope. Pastors ought to labor strenuously to purify the Church; and all the godly, so far as their respective callings enable them, ought to lend assistance in this matter; but when all shall have devoted their... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:41

Verse 41 41.They shall gather out of his kingdom all stumbling-blocks The words that follow, and those who commit iniquity, are added for the sake of exposition; for it is not intended to point out two different things, but to state, that then will be the full and seasonable time, when all things shall be restored to regular order, and when the wicked shall be removed, who are now stumbling-blocks. They are so called, because not only are their own lives wicked, but they undermine the faith of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:42

Verse 42 42.And shall cast them into a furnace of fire. This is a metaphorical expression; for, as the infinite glory which is laid up for the sons of God so far exceeds all our senses, that we cannot find words to express it, so the punishment which awaits the reprobate is incomprehensible, and is therefore shadowed out according to the measure of our capacity. From ignorance of this, the Sophists have tortured themselves, to no purpose, by fruitless disputes, as we have already hinted on a... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:22

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:23

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:24

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:31

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:34

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:35

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:37

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:39

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:41

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:42

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