18. § 55. Parable of the tares
CH. XIII. 24-53.
24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field.
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
CH. IV. 26-34.
sec. 54, 55.]
of the sower. Lake of Galilee. Near Capernaum?
CH. VIII. 4-18.
root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
14 And that which fell among thorns, are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares, and riches, and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15 But that on the good ground are they, which, in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.
17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid, that shall not be known, and come abroad.
18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given: and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
Other parables. Near Capernaum?
§ 55. Parable of the tares.
| MATTHEW. CH. XIII. 24-53. | MARK. CH. IV. 26-34. |
| --- | --- |
| 27 So the servants of the house-holder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? | |
| 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servant said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? | 26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; |
| 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. | 27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. |
| 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn. | 28 For the earth brought forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. | | 31 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. | 29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. | | 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. | 30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? | | 33 Another parable spake he unto them: The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. | 31 It is like a grain of mustard-seed, which when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: | | 34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: | 32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. | | 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. | 33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. | | 36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. | 34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. | | 37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; | |
| 38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; | |
* Ps. lxxviii. 2.
§ 55. Parable of the tares.
| MATTHEW. CH. XIII. 24-53. but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 44 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. 45 Again, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant-man seeking goodly pearls. 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 47 Again, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just. 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. 52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, is like unto a man that is a householder. | MARK. | | --- | --- |
§ 55. Parable of the tares.
| MATTHEW. CH. XIII. 24-53. which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. 53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. | MARK. |
| --- | --- |
| § 56. Jesus directs to cross the lake. Incidents. | |
| CH. VIII. 18-27. | CH. IV. 35-41. |
| 18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. | 35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. |
| 19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. | |
| 20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. | |
| 21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. | |
| 22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. | |
| 23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. | 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. |
| 24 And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. | 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. |
| 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. | 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish! |
| 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. | 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still: and the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? | SEC. 55, 56.]
| Other parables. Near Capernaum! | |
| --- | --- |
| The tempest stilled. | Lake of Galilee. |
| CH. VIII. 22-25. CH. IX. 57-62. 22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. CH. IX. 57 And it came to pass, that as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go, bid them farewell which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. CH. VIII. 22 And they launched forth. 23 But as they sailed, he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. 24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, Master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind, and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith! And they being afraid, | | § 56. Jesus directs to cross the lake. Incidents.
CH. VIII. 18-27.
27 But the men marvelled, saying,
What manner of man is this, that when the winds and the sea obey him!
CH. IV. 35-41.
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him!
§ 57. The two demoniacs
CH. VIII. 28-34.
CH. IX. 1.
28 And when he was come to the other side, into the country of the
Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
CH. V. 1-21.
AND they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the
Gadarenes.
2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces:
neither could any man taine him.
5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee,
Jesus, thou Son of the most high
God! I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
8 (For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.)
29 And behold, they cried out,
9 And he asked him, What is thy
Matth. VIII. 23, Gergesenes.] This is made consistent with the other Evangelists, by reading "Gadarenes." If Gergasa was subordinate to Gadara, the metropolis of
Perea, as Cellarnes and Relaud judge, and St. Mark did not write in Judea, what wonder that he chose the more general name, which was best known in the world?
But Cellarnes from Eusebius takes notice that some esteemed Gergasi, so Eusebius writes it, and Gadara two names of the same city; and this he thinks was the sentiment of the Syriac translator. To this Sir Richard Ellis most inclines, in his Fortuita Sacra. Towson, p. 72.
SEC. 56, 57.]
The tempest stilled. Lake of Galilee.
| LUKE. CH. VIII. 22-25. CH. IX. 57-62. wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him. | JOHN. |
| --- | --- | of Gadara. S. E. coast of the Lake of Galilee.
| CH. VIII. 26-40. 26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. 27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a cer- tain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. • 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high! I beseech thee tor- ment me not. 29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains, and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) 30 And Jesus asked him, saying, | | --- |
In Matthew mention is made of two demoniacs; in Mark and Luke of one only. Here Le Clerc's maxim is undoubtedly true: Qui plura narrat, pauciora complectitur: qui pauciora memorat, plura non negat. Harm p. 521.
We may collect a reason from the Gospels themselves, why Mark and Luke mention only one demoniac; because, one only being grateful for the miracle, his cure only was recorded by the two Evangelists, who mention this gratitude, and who are more intent on inculcating the moral, than on magnifying our Lord's power. NEWCOME.