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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 13:24-43

In these verses, we have, I. Another reason given why Christ preached by parables, Matt. 13:34, 35. All these things he spoke in parables, because the time was not yet come for the more clear and plain discoveries of the mysteries of the kingdom. Christ, to keep the people attending and expecting, preached in parables, and without a parable spake he not unto them; namely, at this time and in this sermon. Note, Christ tries all ways and methods to do good to the souls of men, and to make... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 13:1-58

Matthew 13:1-58 is a very important chapter in the pattern of the gospel. (i) It shows a definite turning-point in the ministry of Jesus. At the beginning of his ministry we find him teaching in the synagogues; but now we find him teaching on the seashore. The change is very significant. It was not that the door of the synagogue was as yet finally shut to him, but it was closing. Even yet in the synagogue he would find a welcome from the common people; but the official leaders of Jewish... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:33

Another parable spake he unto them ,.... To the disciples and the multitude, and which was of the same kind, to the same purpose, and relating to the same subject as the former; the spread of the Gospel, and the increase of it in the world, The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven . The word "leaven" is every where else used in a bad sense; and either designs immorality, as malice and wickedness, or false doctrine, such as that of the Pharisees and Sadducees: but here it seems to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:34

All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude ,.... In the hearing of his disciples, whilst in the ship, the multitude being on the shore, in parables ; in the four foregoing ones, and without a parable spake he not unto them : not that he never had preached but in a parabolical way unto them, or that he never did afterwards use any other way of speaking; for it is certain, that both before and after, he delivered himself plainly, and without figures: but the meaning is, that in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:35

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet ,.... Not Isaiah, as some copies in the times of Jerom read, but Asaph, who is called Asaph the seer, 2 Chronicles 29:30 which is all one as a prophet; vision is one sort of prophecy F4 R. David Kimchi, Shorash. rad. חזה . ; and there was such a thing as prophesying with harps, psalteries and cymbals, as well as in other ways, and with which Asaph and his sons are said to prophesy, 1 Chronicles 25:1 so that he is very... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:36

Then Jesus sent the multitude away ,.... That his disciples might have the opportunity of conversing with him alone, about the sense of the parables he had delivered; and that he might instruct them by some others hereafter mentioned, And went into the house : left the ship in which he had been preaching to the multitude, came on shore, and returned to the house he came out of, Matthew 13:1 . and his disciples came to him ; and being alone, make an humble request to him, saying,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:33

The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven - On the nature and effects of leaven, see the note on Exodus 12:8 . As the property of leaven is to change, or assimulate to its own nature, the meal or dough with which it is mixed, so the property of the grace of Christ is to change the whole soul into its own likeness; and God intends that this principle should continue in the soul till all is leavened - till the whole bear the image of the heavenly, as it before bore the image of the earthly.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:34

All these things spoke Jesus - in parables - Christ descends from Divine mysteries to parables, in order to excite us to raise our minds, from and through natural things, to the great God, and the operations of his grace and Spirit. Divine things cannot be taught to man but through the medium of earthly things. If God should speak to us in that language which is peculiar to heaven, clothing those ideas which angelic minds form, how little should we comprehend of the things thus described!... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:35

By the prophet - As the quotation is taken from Psalm 78:2 , which is attributed to Asaph, he must be the prophet who is meant in the text; and, indeed, he is expressly called a prophet, 1 Chronicles 25:2 . Several MSS. have Ησαιου , Isaiah; but this is a manifest error. Jerome supposes that Asaph was first in the text, and that some ignorant transcriber, not knowing who this Asaph was, inserted the word Isaiah; and thus, by attempting to remove an imaginary error, made a real one. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:36

Jesus - went into the house: and his disciples came - Circumstances of this kind should not pass unnoticed: they are instructive and important. Those who attend only to the public preaching of the Gospel of God are not likely to understand fully the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. To understand clearly the purport of the Divine message, a man must come to God by frequent, fervent, secret prayer. It is thus that the word of God sinks into the heart, is watered, and brings forth much... read more

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