And his disciples asked him ,.... That is, as Mark says, "when he was alone"; after the multitude were departed, and they were by themselves, it may be in some house with other disciples: saying, what might this parable be ? what is the sense and meaning of it? According to Matthew, they asked why he spake in parables to the people; and to such a question the following words are a proper answer. read more
And he said, unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God ,.... The doctrines of the Gospel, which to have spiritual knowledge is a special and peculiar gift of God. The Vulgate Latin and Persic versions read, "the mystery", in the singular, as in Mark: "but to others in parables"; that is, the doctrines of the Gospel are delivered in a parabolical way to others; to such as "are without", as the Evangelist Mark expresses it, who are strangers and foreigners, and not... read more
Now the parable is this , &c.; "Or this is the sense of the parable", as the Arabic version renders it: "the seed is the word of God", the Gospel, as preached by Christ, his apostles, and faithful ministers, which has God for its author, is concerning the grace of God, and is what he blesses, and makes effectual to answer any good purpose. read more
Those by the wayside are they that hear ,.... The word of God, though only by accident, and very carelessly, and without understanding what they hear: then cometh the devil ; signified by the fowls of the air: and taketh away the word out of their hearts , or memories; that little of it, which is retained there, and diverts their minds from it by other objects; so that they quite forget what they have heard; lest they should believe, and be saved : this clause is only in Luke;... read more
They on the rock are they, which when they hear ,.... The seed that fell upon the rock, or stony ground, signify such sort of hearers, who receive the word with joy . The Ethiopic version reads, "with joy of heart". But, this sort of hearers receive not the word into their hearts, or with their hearts believe it, and from their hearts obey it, only into their heads; and have only, an historical faith of it; nor with hearty, spiritual, solid joy, or joy in the Holy Ghost: for their hearts... read more
And that which fell among thorns are they ,.... The seed that fell among thorns, or were sown on thorny ground, represent such hearers: which, when they have heard, go forth ; from hearing the word to their worldly business; or go on in the pursuit of their worldly lusts and pleasures notwithstanding; for the word translated, "go forth", belongs to the next clause; and are choked with cares and riches, and pleasures of this life ; and with it to be read thus, "and going on in or... read more
But that on the good ground are they ,.... The seed that fell on good ground design such hearers, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it : who hear with an honest and good intention, and faithfully keep it, and hold it fast: and bring forth fruit with patience ; with great constancy, suffering much for the sake of it; and the more they suffer, the more fruitful they are. See this explanation of the parable more largely insisted on in the following notes.... read more
No man, when he hath lighted a candle ,.... Christ by this, and some proverbial sentences following, observes to his disciples, that though the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven were delivered in parables for the present, that they might not be seen and understood by some; and though he gave to them the explanation of such parables, as of the above, in a private manner; yet his intention was not, that these things should always remain a secret with them; but as they were the lights of the... read more
For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest ,.... Meaning, whatever was then wrapped up in parables and dark sayings, or was secretly, and in a private manner, committed to them, should be made manifest by them to others hereafter: neither any thing hid, that shall not be made known, and come abroad ; for what had been whispered to them, in the most secret and silent manner, was to come abroad not only in Judea, but in all the world, and to be published upon the house tops; See... read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 8:8
And other fell on good ground ,.... The Syriac version reads, "on good and beautiful ground"; and so the Cambridge copy of Beza's; ground which both looked well, and proved well; and signifies such hearers who have good and honest hearts, made so by the Spirit of God; who receive the word in the love of it, have a spiritual understanding, and real experience of it; and sprang up, and bare fruit, an hundred fold ; or, "a hundred for one", as the Syriac version renders it; a hundred grains... read more