1The parable of the sower. 10Why Christ taught in parables. 14The exposition of the parable. 21The light of knowledge is given to be communicated to others. 26The kingdom of God likened to the seed which groweth imperceptibly: 30and to a grain of mustard seed. 35Christ stilleth a tempest by his word.
1AND hea began again to teach by 1the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
a Mat. 13:1; Luke 8:4.
1 That is, the Lake of Galilee or Gennesareth, at which Capernaum was located, to which Christ often went because commonly there was much people, and therefore a suitable place to teach, Mat. 13:1; Mark 2:13.
2And he taught them many things by 2parables, and said unto them 3in his doctrine,
2 Gr. parabolen. See Mat. 13:3.
3 That is, in His teaching, or as He taught.
3Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
4And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
5And some fell on stony ground, where it had 4not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
4 For, a small amount of soil is soon warmed by the sun, and moistened by the rain. But when the heat continues, it is also soon dried up.
6But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had 5no root, it withered away.
5 That is, no sufficient or firm root.
7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
8And 6other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and 7some sixty, and 8some an hundred.
6 Namely, grain, or part of the seed.
7 Gr. the one.
8 Gr. the one.
9And he said unto them, 9He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
9 See the exposition, Mat. 13:9.
10Andb when he was alone, they 10that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
b Mat. 13:10; Luke 8:9.
10 Namely, those out of whom He took His seventy disciples.
11And he said unto them, Untoc you it is given 11to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: butd unto them 12that are without, all these things are done in parables:
c Mat. 11:25; 2 Cor. 2:14.
11 Namely, clearly and plainly.
d 2 Cor. 3:14.
12 Namely, who are outside the number of My sheep, or who are no true members of the church, John 10:26; Rom. 9:6, 7, 8.
1213Thate seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
13 By these words, taken out of Isa. 6:9, is declared the judgment of God upon those who are disobedient to the Gospel. See Mat. 13:14; 2 Thes. 2:11, 12.
e Isa. 6:9; Mat. 13:14; Luke 8:10; John 12:40; Acts 28:26; Rom. 11:8.
13And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
14¶Thef sower soweth 14the word.
f Mat. 13:19; Luke 8:11.
14 That is, who preaches the doctrine of the Gospel.
15And these 15are they by the way side, 16where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
15 That is, that by those which are sown by the way side, are signified they that, etc.
16 Gr. where so ever, that is, in which. See further the exposition of this entire similitude in the annotations at Mat. 13 on verse 18, etc.
16And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, 17immediately they are offended.
17 That is, they stumble at this, that they, with the professors of the Gospel, are subject to persecution, and afterwards fall away.
18And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19Andg the cares of this 18world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of 19other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
g Mat. 19:23; Mark 10:23; Luke 18:24; 1 Tim. 6:9.
18 Gr. age, that is, of things pertaining to this life.
19 Namely, such as: honor, pleasures, revenge and the like.
20And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
21¶Andh he said unto them, 20Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under 21a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
h Mat. 5:15; Luke 8:16; 11:33.
20 That is, is also a candle lighted and brought?
21 Or, cupboard-bed. Gr. couch.
22Fori there is 22nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
i Job 12:22; Mat. 10:26; Luke 8:17; 12:2.
22 Namely, Christ's disciples have been taught by Him to remain hidden, but in due time they were in the end to teach openly before all people.
23If any man have ears to hear, let him 23hear.
23 That is, let him observe it.
24And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: withj what 24measure ye mete,k it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
j Mat. 7:2; Luke 6:38.
24 That is, according as you shall faithfully impart your gifts of knowledge unto others, the Lord shall also increase the same unto you. See Mat. 25:21, 29.
k to measure
25Forl he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
l Mat. 13:12; 25:29; Luke 8:18; 19:26.
26¶And he said, So is the 25kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
25 That is, the progress of the preaching of the Gospel. See Mat. 21:43.
27And should 26sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and 27grow up, he knoweth not how.
26 That is, afterwards would go quietly up and down; as Psalm 3:5.
27 That is, grown tall or high.
28For the earth bringeth forth fruit 28of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
28 That is, by its own innate power and nature, it brings forth fruit, of that which is sown in it, Gen. 1:11. By this similitude Christ teaches that the Word of God, being preached, does get her growth and increase in the hearts of men, not properly by the labor and care of the teacher, but by the secret working of the Spirit of God, which comes to be observed by degrees, by the growing forth of the fruit there, 1 Cor. 3:7.
29But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest 29is come.
29 Gr. standeth there.
30¶Andm he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
m Mat. 13:31; Luke 13:18.
31It is like a grain 30of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is 31less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
30 What this similitude signifies, see Mat. 13:31.
31 Gr. the lesser.
32But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh 32greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
32 Gr. the more, or greater.
33Andn with many such parables spake he 33the word unto them, 34as they were able to hear it.
n Mat. 13:34.
33 Namely, of the Gospel.
34 That is, according as they understood these common earthly things, although they comprehended not the spiritual things, which were thereby represented.
34But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
35Ando the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over 35unto the other side.
o Mat. 8:23; Luke 8:22.
35 Namely, of the Sea of Galilee, over against Capernaum, towards the land of the Gadarenes, as appears from Mark 5:1.
36And 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.
37And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, 36Master, 37carest thou not that we perish?
36 Gr. Teacher.
37 Or, doth it not concern thee?
39And he arose, and rebukedp the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
p Job 26:12; Psalm 107:29; Isa. 51:10.
40And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have 38no faith?
38 That is, no firm assurance, confidence. For, they were not altogether without faith, but of little faith, Mat. 8:26; Luke 8:25.
41And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?