Matthew 13:19-28

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:26

But when the blade was sprung up ,.... That is, the blade of the wheat; which designs the taking up, a profession of religion on principles of grace, called a profession of faith; and when right, it springs up from, and proceeds upon a work begun in the heart: and such a profession ought to be made by all that are partakers of the grace of God; and ought to be made both verbally, by a confession of the mouth, and a declaration of the work of God upon the heart, and by deeds, by submitting to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:27

So the servants of the householder came ,.... Christ is the "householder"; the house of which he is master is the church, called the household of God, the household of faith, the family in heaven, and in earth; in which house he bears and sustains many relations, as those of a son, a priest, a master, or governor. By "the servants" that came to him, are meant, not civil magistrates, who have nothing to do in the affairs of churches; nor the angels, though these are ministering servants to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:28

He said unto them, an enemy has done this ,.... This is the answer of the householder to the question of his servants. In the Greek text it is, "an enemy man"; and is so rendered in the several versions; meaning, not that the enemy was a man; for he was the devil, as in Matthew 13:39 but it is an Hebraism; such as in Esther 7:6 , איש צר ואויב , "the man adversary and enemy" is this wicked Haman; and signifies a certain enemy, and one indeed that is an implacable enemy to man. ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:19

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom - Viz. the preaching of the Gospel of Christ. And understandeth it not - Μη συνιεντος , perhaps more properly, regardeth it not, does not lay his heart to it. The wicked one - Ο πονηρος , from πονος , labor, toil, he who distresses and torments the soul. Mark, Mark 4:15 , calls him ὁ σατανας , the adversary or opposer, because he resists men in all their purposes of amendment, and, to the utmost of his power opposes, in order to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:20

But he that received the seed into stony places - is he - That is, is a fit emblem of that man who, hearing the Gospel, is affected with its beauty and excellency, and immediately receiveth it with joy - is glad to hear what God has done to make man happy. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:21

Yet hath he not root in himself - His soul is not deeply convinced of its guilt and depravity; the fallow ground is not properly ploughed up, nor the rock broken. When persecution, etc., ariseth, which he did not expect, he is soon stumbled - seeks some pretext to abandon both the doctrine and followers of Christ. Having not felt his own sore, and the plague of his heart, he has not properly discovered that this salvation is the only remedy for his soul: thus he has no motive in his heart... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:22

He also that received seed among the thorns - In land ploughed, but not properly cleared and seeded. Is he - represents that person who heareth the word, but the cares, rather the anxiety, η μεριμνα , the whole system of anxious carking cares. Lexicographers derive the word μεριμνα from μεριζειν τον νουν , dividing, or distracting the mind. Thus a poet, Tot me impediunt curae quae meum animum diverse trahunt . "So many cares hinder me which draw my mind different ways." Terence. ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:23

Good ground - That which had depth of mould, was well ploughed, and well weeded. Is he that heareth - Who diligently attends the ministry of the word. And understandeth it - Lays the subject to heart, deeply weighing its nature, design, and importance. Which also beareth fruit - His fruitfulness being an almost necessary consequence of his thus laying the Divine message to heart. Let it be observed, that to hear, to understand, and to bring forth fruit, are the three grand... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:24

The kingdom of heaven - God's method of managing the affairs of the world, and the concerns of his Church. Is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field - In general, the world may be termed the field of God; and in particular, those who profess to believe in God through Christ are his field or farm; among whom God sows nothing but the pure unadulterated word of his truth. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:25

But while men slept - When the professors were lukewarm, and the pastors indolent, his enemy came and sowed tares, ζιζανια degenerate, or bastard wheat. The righteous and the wicked are often mingled in the visible Church. Every Christian society, how pure soever its principles may be, has its bastard wheat - those who bear a resemblance to the good, but whose hearts are not right with God. He who sows this bastard wheat among God's people is here styled God's enemy; and he may be... read more

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