Matthew 13

Matthew 13:3

Behold, a sower went forth to sow.

Behold, the word of God is as the seed; the preacher is the sower or seedsman; men are the soil; God’s messengers, by his appointment, go forth to preach his word and Gospel to men.

Matthew 13:11

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.

Although I do speak in these riddles or parables, yet the illumination of that Spirit, which is given to you, will sufficiently clear these things unto you, who are acquainted with these Divine Mysteries: but as for those, that have not this light from above, they understand them not; their infidelity is justly punished, with ignorance of all saving doctrine.

Matthew 13:12

For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

For, whosoever, through my goodness and mercy, hath any measure of grace wrought in him, that man, in the effectual use of those means which I afford unto him, shall have yet more; but, whosoever hardeneth his heart to refuse those gracious offers which are made unto him, it is and shall be just with God, to take away from him those helps and tenders of means and previous dispositions, which are made unto him.

Matthew 13:13

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Therefore speak I unto them in parables, because they have brought this willing blindness upon themselves, that in seeing they see not; and this wilful deafness, that in hearing they hear not &c.

Matthew 13:25

But while he slept, his enemy came and sowed tares.

See our Saviour’s exposition of this parable, verses 37, 38, 39, 40, of this chapter. XIII. 31, 32. The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 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. The Gospel of my Kingdom, in regard of the happy growth and success thereof, may well be resembled to a grain of mustard seed: Which, being one of the least of all seeds, at length grows up to a strong and branched plant; and, exceeding the quantity of a herb, becomes, as it were, a little tree, able to yield sufficient perches for the birds that resort unto it: even so my Gospel, from weak and contemptible beginnings, shall spread forth to that largeness of extent, as that it shall reach unto all the nations upon earth.

Matthew 13:52

Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

These parables I have delivered and expounded unto you, not only for your own information, but also for the instruction of others: for know, that it is not only required of you to understand the mysteries of my kingdom yourselves, but to be able to teach them unto others also: so as if ye will be meet doctors of my Evangelical Church, ye ought to be furnished with all variety of divine knowledge; that, as a good householder lays up and fetcheth forth store and change of good provision for his guests and family, so may ye, that are my ministers and messengers to the world, be stored with plenty of saving knowledge and heavenly doctrine.

Matthew 13:54

And when he was come into his own country.

And when he was come to Nazareth, where he was brought up. XIII. 54, 55, 56. Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? Do not we know the birth and breeding of this man? Is he not the son of Joseph, the carpenter? Is not his mother called Mary? Are not his cousins and near kinsmen, James and Joses, men well known of us? Are not his kinswomen here amongst us? Whence is it, that, having not been trained up in the Schools, he should come by this marvellous wisdom and knowledge; and whence are these his miraculous works?