matthew-13:1-13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:9

Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. Not externally only, but internally; he that has ears given him to hear, so as to understand, let him make use of them, and seriously consider of, and diligently attend to the use and importance of this parable. It is a way of speaking used by Christ, when anything of moment was delivered, and not so easy to be understood, on purpose to quicken the attention of his auditors, and stir up in them a desire of understanding what was said; which effect this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:10

And the disciples came, and said unto him ,.... Not the twelve only, but others that were about him, as Mark says, who also were his disciples, and believed in him: these, when he was alone, came nearer to him, who, whilst he was preaching to the people, were at some little distance from him, either in the ship, or on the shore, though within the hearing of him, and addressed him after this manner; why speakest thou unto them in parables? not that this way of speaking was new and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:11

He answered, and said unto them ,.... Christ was always ready to give an answer to his inquiring disciples, concerning his ministry, and his conduct in it; which shows great respect to them, and condescension in him: because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven : by the "kingdom of heaven", is meant the Gospel, which treats of the kingdom of heaven, and of things pertaining to it; of the saints' meetness for it, which is the regenerating and sanctifying grace... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:12

For whosoever hath, to him shall be given ,.... Whoever has the true grace of God implanted in him, has a saving knowledge of Christ, and a spiritual acquaintance with the doctrines of the Gospel, shall have more grace given him; he shall grow in the knowledge of Christ, and the Spirit of truth shall lead him into all truth: and he shall have more abundance : of grace, light, knowledge, and experience: all grace shall be made to abound towards him; he shall be filled with all the fulness... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 13:13

Therefore speak I to them in parables ,.... Because it was the will and pleasure of his Father to give the knowledge of divine mysteries to some, and not to others; and because even the outward good things they had, being wrongly used or abused by them, would be taken away from them: and because they seeing, see not : they saw Christ with their bodily eyes, but not with an eye of faith; they saw the miracles he did, but did not discern, at least did not acknowledge the evidence of them,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:1

The same day - Our Lord scarcely ever appears to take any rest: he is incessant in his labors, and instant in season and out of season; and in this he has left all his successors in the ministry an example, that they should follow his steps: for he who wishes to save souls will find few opportunities to rest. As Satan is going about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, the messenger of God should imitate his diligence, that he may counteract his work. The gospels are journals of our... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:2

Into a ship - Το πλοιον , The vessel or boat. Mr. Wakefield supposes (which is very likely) that a particular vessel is uniformly specified, which seems to have been kept on the lake for the use of Christ and his apostles: it probably belonged to some of the fishermen, (see Matthew 4:22 ;), who, he thinks, occasionally, at least, followed their former occupation. See John 21:3 . The thought of pious Quesnel on this verse should not be neglected. We see here a representation of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 13:3

He spake many things unto them in parables - Parable, from παρα , near, and βαλλω , I cast, or put. A comparison or similitude, in which one thing is compared with another, especially spiritual things with natural, by which means these spiritual things are better understood, and make a deeper impression on an attentive mind. Or, a parable is a representation of any matter accommodated, in the way of similitude, to the real subject, in order to delineate it with the greater force and... read more

Adam Clarke