Matthew 13:1-53

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:16

But blessed are your eyes, for they see ,.... Which is to be understood both of corporal and intellectual sight: it was their happiness to see Christ in the flesh, and converse with him in person, be eyewitnesses of his majesty, and see with their own eyes the miracles performed by him, the proofs and attestations of those doctrines they were to publish to all the world; and it was still their greater happiness, that they saw his glory, as the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:17

For verily I say unto you ,.... This is added for the further confirmation of what is before said, concerning the happiness of the disciples, in seeing and hearing what they did: that many prophets, and righteous men ; Luke says, Luke 10:24 "kings" have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them, and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them . To see Christ in the flesh, and have a clearer insight into the knowledge of the mysteries of grace,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:18

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower . That is, the interpretation of the parable; for they had heard the parable before, and had desired an explanation of it; which, though not mentioned by Matthew, is, by the other evangelists, Mark 4:10 , Luke 8:9 and since it was given to them to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, therefore Christ calls upon them to attend unto, and hear, so as to understand the spiritual meaning of this parable. Mark relates, that he moreover said to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:19

When anyone heareth the word of the kingdom ,.... Hence it appears, that by the "seed" in the parable is meant the Gospel, called the "word of the kingdom": because it treats of the king Messiah, of his person, office, and grace; and of his kingdom, and the administration of it by him, under the present dispensation; of the kingdom of grace saints enjoy now, and of the kingdom of heaven they shall enter into hereafter, through the grace and righteousness of Christ. Now such a hearer of this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:20

But he that receiveth the seed into stony places ,.... Such a hearer, who is like to the stony ground on which the seed fell, is one that is not an accidental hearer of the word, as the former, but a settled constant hearer of it; and not one that is careless and negligent, but diligent and attentive, and has some understanding of what he hears; the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it : he is one that not only constantly attends upon it, but he receives it;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:21

Yet hath he not root in himself ,.... Nor in Christ; the word is not rooted in him, nor has he the root of the matter, or the truth of grace in him: but dureth for a while ; a hearer of the word, a professor of religion, showing some outward respect to the word, and to the preachers of it: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth, because of the word ; which is often the case, and must be expected by those who embrace the Gospel, profess the name of Christ, and are willing to live... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:22

He also that receiveth seed among the thorns ,.... The hearer that is like to the thorny ground, on which the seed fell, is he that heareth the word ; not a profane sinner, nor a reviler of religion, or a persecutor of the saints; but one that not only shows a love to the word, but who seems to have his heart broken under it, and by it, his conscience tender, and his life outwardly reformed; one, who besides his being a settled, diligent, understanding, and affectionate hearer of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:23

But he that received seed into the good ground ,.... The hearer compared to good ground into which the seed fell, is he that heareth the word and understandeth it; has a new and spiritual understanding given him, feels the power of it on his heart, enlightening and quickening him; has an application of it made to him by the Spirit of God, and can discern the worth and excellency of it, and distinguish it from all others; and, as Mark says, "receives it"; as the word of God in faith, and with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:24

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying ,.... Somewhat like the former, but with a different view: for whereas the design of the former was to show the different sorts of hearers that attend upon the ministry of the word, three parts in four being bad; this is to show the difference of members in churches, some being comparable to good seed, and others to tares. The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field : by "the kingdom of heaven", is not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:25

But while men slept ,.... Good men, ministers, and churches; whose case this sometimes is to be asleep in a spiritual sense: and which sleepiness lies in a non-exercise of grace; in a sluggishness to and in duty; in a contentment in external exercises of religion; in lukewarmness about the cause of Christ; in an unconcernedness about sins of omission and commission; and in a willingness to continue in such a state; and which arises from a body of sin and death; from worldly cares; weariness... read more

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