Bible Commentaries

¹ And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

(1) Christ shows in putting forth this parable of the sower, that the seed of life which is sown in the world does not do as well in one as in another, and the reason for this is that men for the most part, either do not receive it, or do not permit it to ripen.

² He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

(2) The gift of understanding and faith is given only to the elect, and all the rest are blinded through the just judgment of God.

³ But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

(3) The condition of the Church under and since Christ, is better than it was in the time of the fathers under the law.

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catcheth away that which was sown in his ^a heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

(a) Though there is mention made of the heart, yet this sowing is referred to as hearing without understanding. For whether the seed is received in the heart or not, yet he that sows, sows to the heart.

⁴ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

(4) Christ shows in another parable of the evil seed mixed with the good, that the Church will never be free and rid of offences, both in doctrine and manners, until the day appointed for the restoring of all things comes, and therefore the faithful have to arm themselves with patience and steadfastness.

⁵ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

(5) God begins his kingdom with very small beginnings so that by its growing (even though men neither hope nor expect it to) his mighty power and working may be displayed all the more.

⁶ He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

(6) He expounds the first parable of the good and evil seed.

⁷ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

(7) Few men understand how great the riches of the kingdom of heaven are, and that no man can be a partaker of them but he that redeems them with the loss of all his goods.

⁸ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

(8) There are many in the Church who nevertheless are not of the Church, and therefore at length will be cast out: but the full and perfect cleansing of them is deferred to the last day.

⁹ Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

(9) They ought to be diligent, who have to be wise not only for themselves, but who have to dispense the wisdom of God to others.

¹⁰ And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this [man] this wisdom, and [these] mighty works?

(10) Men not only sin because of ignorance, but also knowingly and willingly they lay stumbling blocks in their own ways, that when God calls them, they may not obey, and so most plainly destroy and cast away themselves.