Matthew 13

Christ proponunds divers similitudes to his hearers; whereof the first is of a sower, whose seed falls upon divers places, 1. Declares to his Disciples the cause whereof he speaks by similitudes, 10. Interprets that similitude to his Disciples, 18. Joins thereto the similitude of the Tare amongst the Wheat,24. Of the Mustard – seed, 31. Of the Leaven, 33. Expounds the similitude of the Tares, 36. Addes thereto the similitude of the hidden treasure,44. Of the Merchant that sought pearls 45 Of the fishing net, 47 Of an householder, which brings forth out of his treasures (things) new and old, 52. Comes into his own countrey, where he is not much esteemed, 54.

1. And that day Jesus being gone out of the house, sate by the sea. [Namley, yhe Sea of Galilee by Capernuam]

2. And there gathered together unto him many multitudes, so that he went into a ship, and sate down, an all the maultitude stood on the shore.

3. And he spake many things unto them by similitudes, [Gr. Parables; which are suchh similitudes when any things are Historically related, as they were come to pass among men; and somewhat else that is spiritual is understood therby. But are sometimes also taken more largely for all manner of similitudes, doctrines, and excellent saying see verse 35.] saying, Behold, a sower went out to sowe.

4. And as he sawed, one part (of the seed) fell by the way (side) : and the sowls came, and eat up.

5. And another (part) fell on stony (places) where it had not much earth; and it came up straightway [that is, grew or sprung up] because it had no deepness of earth.

6. But when the sun was risen up, it was scorched ; and because it had no root it withered

7. And another (part) fell in the thorns; and the thorns grew up [Gr. ascended] and choaked the same.

8. And another (part) fell into good earth, and yeild fruit; the one an hundred, another sixty and another thrity (fold).

9. He that hath an ears to hear, let him hear. [That is, he that hath received of God the spirit of understanding; let him take notice herof with attention, 2 Cor. chapter 3.5.]

10. And the Disciples coming to him, sai unto him, Wherefore speaketh thou unto them by similitudes?

11. And he answering, said unto them, Because it is given unto you [Namely, by God, of grace, according to his good pleasure, Matth. 16. 17. Galatians 1:15.] to know the mysteries of the Kindgome of the Heavens, but to them it is not given. [for the Gospel is hid to them that are lost, 2 Cor.4. verse.4.]

12. For whoso hath, [Namely, the beginning of saving faith, and by the power of the holy Ghost takes heed to it] to him shall given, and he shall have abundantly; but whoso hath not, from him shall be taken, even that which he hath, [that is, that which he think eth or seemeth to have, like as Luke expounds it, chapter 8. verse 18. see also Matth 25. verse 29]

13. Therefore speak i unto them by similitudes, because they seeing,see not; and hearing, hear not; nor yer understand.

14. And then the Prophecy of Isaiah id fulfilled: seeing that which Isaiah said before the stiff – necked Jews of his time, was yet once more fulfilled in these stiff – necked Jews] who saith, With the hearing ye shall hear, and by no means understand; and seeing ye shall see, by no menas discern. [That which is heer spoken by way of presiction, is in esay set down by way of command; the better to express the Judgement of God upon this stiffnecked people; likeas here also it might be taken. See the further exposition of all this, Isaiah 6. verse. 9, &c.]

15. For the heart of this people is waxed thick, [namely, with fatness, Acts 28:27.] and with the ears they have heard heavily; and their eyes have they closed, left at any time they should see with eyes, and hear with the ears, and understand with the hearts, and he concerted, and i should hela them.

16. But your eyes are blessed, [or, happy] because they see, and your ears, because they hear.

17. For verily i say unto you, that many Prophets and righteous (men) have desired to see the things which ye se, [Namely, the Messiah come in the slesh, and executing his office. See John 8. verse 56. Acts 26:6,7.] and have not seen (them), and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard (them).

18. Therefore hear ye the similitude of the sower.

19. Whhen any man heareth that word of the Kingdome, [That is, the doctrine of the Gospel, whereby Christ sets up his Kingdome, Mat.9.35.] and doth not understand, then cometh the wicked one [that is, the Devil] and snatcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he [That is to say, is signified by him,&c.] which was sown [that is to say, received the seed] by the way – (side)

20. But he that is sown in stony (places), this i he which heareth the word, and presently with joy [This joy ariseth from thhe knowledge of the doctrine of the Gospel, and acceptableness of the promise of the same: although their heart still remains stony, that is, that the hardnesse thereof is not yet taken away by the Spirit of God] receiveth the same.

21. But hhe hath no root in himself, [That is, no right and firm confiedence on Christ, whereby we are united unto Christ, as a sure ground of our salvation, Heb.3. 14 and draw the sap of life from hhim, Romans 11:17,20] but is for a time: and wghen tribulation or persecution cometh for the words sake, he is presently offended.

22. And he that is sown in the thorns, this is hhe which heareth the word, and the carefulness of this world; and the seduction odf riches, choaketh the word, [that is, hinders the progress of the vertue of the word] and it becometh unfruitful. [Or, it bringeth no fruit.]

23. Now he that is sown in the good earth, [That is, those that receive it in a good pure heart, Luke 8:15. which a man hath not of himself, but received by the power of the Spirit of God, Acts 18:14.] this is he tha heareth the word and understandeth; who also beareth fruit, [namely, true faith and sincere love, Matth.21.43.] and bringeth forth, the one an hundred, the other sixty, and the other thiry (fold)

24. Another similitude hhe put forth unto them, saying; The Kingdome of the Heavens is like a man, that sowed good seed in his field.

25. And while themen slept, his enemy came and sowed weed [Gr. Zizania: which some think to be an Arabian word, signifying principally a certain fort of weed, which are called in Dutch Brand – corn, which cannot well hhe weeded out without hurt of the wheat] in thee midst of the wheat, and went his way.

26. Now when it was shot up (to) herb, and brought forth fruit, then the weed manifested it self also.

27. And the servants of the Master of the house went and said unto him: sir hast thou not sown good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it this weed?

28. And said unto them: An enemy [or, hostile man] hath done that: And the servant said unto him; Wilt thou then that go our way, and gather the same?

29. But he said, NO; left gathering the weed, ye do happily with the same also pluck out the wheat. [Gr. root out.]

30. Let them both grow up together until the Harvest, [Hereby Christ would not take away the office of the Magistrate, in punishing the wicked , Rom 13 verse 13. verse 4. nor of the Church, in the exercise of Discipline, 1 Cor. 5. 7. but gives to understand that men must use prudence therein ; and that the hypocrites and wicked, cannot be wholly removed, forasmuch as sometimes they cannot well be distinguished from true believers, like as the blasted – corn can hardly be distinguished from the good corn when it first comes up] and in the time of the Harvest i will say to the reapers, first gather the weeds, and binde them in bundles, for to burn them, but bring the wheat together into my barn.

31. Another similitude put he forth unto him, [By thse two similitudes Christ sets forth the power of his Word; which although in the beginning it seemed small and despicable, yet afterwards should spread it self far and wide, and press through the whole world , Romans 10:18.] saying: The Kingdome of Heaven is like the mustard – seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field.

32. Which indeed is the least among all seeds: but when it is grown up, then is the greatest of pot – herbs: and it becomes a Tree, so that the sowls of the Heaven come and nestle in its branchs.

33. Another similitude spake he unto them, (saying) ; The Kingdom of the Heavens is like a Leaven which a woman took and hid, in three measures of meal, [Gr. Sata. see thereof Genesis 18:6.] until the whole was sowred.

34. All these things spake Jesus unto the multitudes by similitude; and without a similitude, spake he not unto them, [Namely, at that time, and in his and other Sermons.]

35. That it might be filfilled which is spoken by the Prophets, saying; i will open my mouth by similitudes; i will bring forth things [or, abundantly bring forth: [Gr. bubble out, cast out like as a fountain doth its water] which were hid from the foundation of the world. [that is to say, such doctrines as were alsways my steries in themselves, but notwithsatnding foretold and revealed in Gods Word: as it is likewise so taken, Psalms 78:2.]

36. Now when Jesus had dismissed the multitudes (from him), he went into the house. And his Disciples came unto him; Declare unto us the similitude of the weeds of the field.

37. And he answering, said unto them; He that soweth the good seed, is the Son of man. [Namley, as well by himself as by his Apostles, and faithful Teachers, Ephes. 4.11,12.]

38. And the field is the world: and the good seed are the children of the Kingdome: [That is, who are not only outward members of Christ Kingdome, like as Matth.8.12. but also true and living members] and the weed are the children of the wicked one.

39. And the enemy which sowed the same is the Devil: and the Harvest is the consummation of the world; and the reapers are the Angels.

40. In like manner therefore as the weeds are gathered, and burnt with the fire, so shall it be (also) in the consummation of this world.

41. The son of man shall send forth his Angels, and they shall gather out his Kingdome all the Scandals, [that is, men which have led a scandalous life] and those that do iniquity.

42. And shall cast the same into the fiery furnace, [Gr. furnance of fire; i.e. Hell.It seems that in this phrase there is an allusion to the horrible punishment of fire, which were in use in former times. See Dan 3.] there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

43. Then shall righteous shine like Sun in the Kingdome of their Father. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

44. Again, the Kingdome of the Heavens is like a Treasure bid in the field, [By thse two similitudes Christ shews the excellent worth of the doctrine and promises of the Gospel, together with the zeal and diligence which men ought to put forth, to obtain the same, although it were even the dammage and losse of all temporal things] which man having found, hid (it), and for joy thereof, he goeth away and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that same field.

45. Again, the Kingdome of teh Heavens is like a Merchant – man, who seeketh goodly pearly.

46. Who having found one pearl of great worth, went away and sold all that he had, and bought the same.

47. Again, the Kingdome of Heaven is like a net cast into the Sea, and tyhat brings togethr all sorts (of fishes)

48. Which when it is become full, (the fishers) drawupon on the shore, and sitting down, gather out the good into (their) vessel, but the bad they cast away.

49. So shall it be in the consumption of the world; The Angels shall go forth [Namely, being sent forth by Christ, as verse 41] and separate the wicked out of the midst of the rightous.

50. And shall cast the same into the fiery furnace, [Gr. furnace of fire, as verse 42] there shall be weeping an gnashing of teeth.

51. And Jesus said unto them; Have ye understood all this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

52. And he said unto them: Therefore every scribe instructed in the Kingdome of the Heavens, [Or, into that is an understanding and exercise man in the Scripture, a Teacher, such as Esdras was. See Ezra 7. verse 6,11.] is like a Master of a house, which brings forth out of the treasure [or, furniture] new and old things.

53. And it come to pass when Jesus had ended these similitudes, he departed thence.

54. And being come into his (own) Country, [Namely, Nazareth, where he was brought up, and his friends dwelt. See Luke 4:16.] he taught them their Synagogue, so that they were astonished; and said, whence (cometh) to this (man) this wisdome and thse mighty works?

55. Is not this the Son of the carpenter, [Namely, of Joseph, whom they thought (but amiss) to be his Father. See Luke 3:23. John 6:42] and is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren [that is, kinsmen: For James and Joses were sons of the sister of Christ mother: as may be seen, John 19 verse 24. compare with Matth 27. verse 56. and Mark 15 verse 40] James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

56. And his sisters, are they not all with us? whence (cometh) then to this (man) all this?

57. And they were offened at him. But Jesus said unto them, A Prophet is not disesteemed (undervalued) save in his own Country, and in his (own) house.

58. And he did not many (mighty) works there, by reason of their unbelief.[Because they by reason of their unbelief, brought not the sick unto him.]