Matthew 13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:43

Verse 43 43.Then will the righteous shine. What a remarkable consolation! The sons of God, who now lie covered with dust, or are held in no estimation, or even are loaded with reproaches, will then shine in full brightness, as when the sky is serene, and every cloud has been dispelled. The adverb then ( τότε) is emphatic; for it contains an implied contrast between their present state and the ultimate restoration, by the expectation of which Christ animates those who believe in him. The meaning... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:44

Verse 44 The first two of these parables are intended to instruct believers to prefer the Kingdom of heaven to the whole world, and therefore to deny themselves and all the desires of the flesh, that nothing may prevent them from obtaining so valuable a possession. We are greatly in need of such a warning; for we are so captivated by the allurements of the world, that eternal life fades from our view; (232) and in consequence of our carnality, the spiritual graces of God are far from being held... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:46

Verse 46 46.And bought it. By the word buy Christ does not mean, that men bring any price, with which they may purchase for themselves the heavenly life; for we know on what condition the Lord invites believers in the book of Isaiah, (Isaiah 55:1,) Come and buy wine and milk without money and without price. But though the heavenly life, and every thing that belongs to it, is the free gift of God, yet we are said to buy it, when we cheerfully relinquish the desires of the flesh, that nothing may... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:47

Verse 47 47.Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net. No new instruction is here given by Christ; but what he formerly taught is confirmed by another parable, that the Church of God, so long as it exists in the world, is a mixture of the good with the bad, and is never free from stains and pollutions. And yet the design of this parable is perhaps different. It may be that Christ intends not only to remove the offense which perplexes many weak minds, because they do not find in the world all... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:51

Verse 51 51.Have you understood all these things? We must keep in recollection what we have formerly seen, that all the parables of Christ were explained in private. And now the Lord, after having taught them in this kind and familiar manner, warns them at the same time, that his object, in taking so much pains to instruct them, was not merely that they might be well informed, (234) but that they might communicate to others what they had received. In this way he whets and excites their minds... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:53

Verse 53 Matthew 13:53.When Jesus had concluded. Matthew does not mean, that immediately after delivering these discourses, he came into his own country; for it is evident from Mark, that some interval of time elapsed. But the meaning is, that after having taught for some time in Judea, he returned again to the Galileans, but did not receive from them kind treatment. A narrative which Luke gives (Luke 4:22) is nearly similar, but is not the same. Nor ought we to wonder that Christ’s countrymen,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:54

Verse 54 54.So that they were amazed. They are struck with amazement at the novelty of the occurrence, that Christ, who had not learned letters, but had been employed from youth to manhood in a mechanical occupation, is so eminent a teacher, and is filled with divine wisdom. In this miracle they ought to have perceived the hand of God; but their ingratitude made them cover themselves with darkness. (346) They are compelled to admire him, whether they will or not; and yet they treat him with... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:55

Verse 55 55.Is not this the carpenter’s son? It was, we are aware, by the wonderful purpose of God, that Christ remained in private life till he was thirty years of age. Most improperly and unjustly, therefore, were the inhabitants of Nazareth offended on this account; for they ought rather to have received him with reverence, as one who had suddenly come down from heaven. They see God working in Christ, and intentionally turn away their eyes from this sight, to behold Joseph, and Mary, and all... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:57

Verse 57 57.A prophet is not devoid of honor. I have explained this statement at considerable length, where it occurs in the Gospel of John, (348) (John 4:44.) It may, no doubt, be a general proverb, that those who are distinguished by eminent gifts are nowhere held in less estimation than in their own country; and this manifests the ingratitude of men, who, in proportion to the greater familiarity with which God exhibits himself to them, are the more bold to reject him in the influences of his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:58

Verse 58 58.And he did not perform many miracles in that place. Mark states it more emphatically, that he could not perform any miracle. But they are perfectly agreed as to the substance of what is said, that it was the impiety of Christ’s countrymen that closed the door against the performance of a greater number of miracles among them. He had already given them some taste of his power; but they willingly stupify themselves, so as to have no relish for it. Accordingly, Augustine justly... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:43

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:44

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:46

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:47

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:51

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:53

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:54

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:55

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:57

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:58

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