Matthew 13:34-35

Matthew 13:34-35. And without a parable spake he not, &c.— That is, "not at that time," or "to the people who then heard him." See the note on Matthew 13:1. Beausobre and Lenfant observe, that the quotation from the Psalms is not a prophecy of the manner in which Christ was to teach, but only an application, made by the Evangelist, of the words of the Psalmist to the mysterious mannerin which our Saviour taught. And Dr. Doddridge and several others are of the same opinion, supposing this passage quoted by way of allusion. See on ch. Matthew 1:22. But Dr. Whitby's interpretation seems to me preferable, who observes that the sense may be this:—our Saviour spake in parables, that what David, filled with the prophetic spirit, said of himself, might be fulfilled also in that Son of David, of whom he was a type; for he, being our great law-giver, might more truly say, Hear my law, O my people, Psalms 78:1. See the note on Psalms 49:4. Olearius's 49th Observation, and Wetstein.