Matthew13
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1On that day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
2And there were gathered unto him great multitudes, so that he entered into a boat, and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach.
3And he spake to them many things in parables, saying, Behold, the sower went forth to sow;
4and as he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured them:
5and others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth: and straightway they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6and when the sun was risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them:
8and others fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
9He that hath ears, let him hear.
10And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath.
13Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:
15For this people’s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them.
16But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.
17For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not.
18Hear then ye the parable of the sower.
19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the evil one, and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side.
20And he that was sown upon the rocky places, this is he that heareth the word, and straightway with joy receiveth it;
21yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; and when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth.
22And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
24Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his field:
25but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away.
26But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27And the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it tares?
28And he said unto them, An enemy hath done this. And the servants say unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29But he saith, Nay; lest haply while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat with them.
30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.
31Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
32which indeed is less than all seeds; but when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the heaven come and lodge in the branches thereof.
33Another 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 it was all leavened.
34All these things spake Jesus in parables unto the multitudes; and without a parable spake he nothing unto them:
35that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.
36Then he left the multitudes, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37And he answered and said, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one;
39and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels.
40As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world.
41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity,
42and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear.
44The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in the field; which a man found, and hid; and in his joy he goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a merchant seeking goodly pearls:
46and having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
48which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach; and they sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but the bad they cast away.
49So shall it be in the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the righteous,
50and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
51Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea.
52And he said unto them, Therefore every scribe who hath been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
53And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
54And coming into his own country he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
55Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?
56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
57And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house.
58And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Matthew 13.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The parable of the sower. (1–23). The parable of the tares. (24–30; 36–43). The parables of the mustard-seed and the leaven. (31–35). The parables of the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price, the net cast into the sea, and the householder. (44–52). Jesus is again rejected at Nazareth. (53–58).
vv1-23
Jesus entered into a boat that he might be the less pressed, and be the better heard by the people. By this he teaches us in the outward circumstances of worship not to covet that which is stately, but to make the best of the conveniences God in his providence allots to us. Christ taught in parables. Thereby the things of God were made more plain and easy to those willing to be taught, and at the same time more difficult and obscure to those who were willingly ignorant. The parable of the sower is plain. The seed sown is the word of God. The sower is our Lord Jesus Christ, by himself, or by his ministers. Preaching to a multitude is sowing the corn; we know not where it will light. Some sort of ground, though we take ever so much pains with it, brings forth no fruit to purpose, while the good soil brings forth plentifully. So it is with the hearts of men, whose different characters are here described by four sorts of ground. Careless, trifling hearers, are an easy prey to Satan; who, as he is the great murderer of souls, so he is the great thief of sermons, and will be sure to rob us of the word, if we take not care to keep it. Hypocrites, like the stony ground, often get the start of true Christians in the shows of profession. Many are glad to hear a good sermon, who do not profit by it. They are told of free salvation, of the believer's privileges, and the happiness of heaven; and, without any change of heart, without any abiding conviction of their own depravity, their need of a Saviour, or the excellence of holiness, they soon profess an unwarranted assurance. But when some heavy trial threatens them, or some sinful advantage may be had, they give up or disguise their profession, or turn to some easier system. Worldly cares are fitly compared to thorns, for they came in with sin, and are a fruit of the curse; they are good in their place to stop a gap, but a man must be well armed that has much to do with them; they are entangling, vexing, scratching, and their end is to be burned, Heb 6:8. Worldly cares are great hinderances to our profiting by the word of God. The deceitfulness of riches does the mischief; they cannot be said to deceive us unless we put our trust in them, then they choke the good seed. What distinguished the good ground was fruitfulness. By this true Christians are distinguished from hypocrites. Christ does not say that this good ground has no stones in it, or no thorns; but none that could hinder its fruitfulness. All are not alike; we should aim at the highest, to bring forth most fruit. The sense of hearing cannot be better employed than in hearing God's word; and let us look to ourselves that we may know what sort of hearers we are.
vv24-30
, 36–43 This parable represents the present and future state of the gospel church; Christ's care of it, the devil's enmity against it, the mixture there is in it of good and bad in this world, and the separation between them in the other world. So prone is fallen man to sin, that if the enemy sow the tares, he may go his way, they will spring up, and do hurt; whereas, when good seed is sown, it must be tended, watered, and fenced. The servants complained to their master; Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? No doubt he did; whatever is amiss in the church, we are sure it is not from Christ. Though gross transgressors, and such as openly oppose the gospel, ought to be separated from the society of the faithful, yet no human skill can make an exact separation. Those who oppose must not be cut off, but instructed, and that with meekness. And though good and bad are together in this world, yet at the great day they shall be parted; then the righteous and the wicked shall be plainly known; here sometimes it is hard to distinguish between them. Let us, knowing the terrors of the Lord, not do iniquity. At death, believers shall shine forth to themselves; at the great day they shall shine forth before all the world. They shall shine by reflection, with light borrowed from the Fountain of light. Their sanctification will be made perfect, and their justification published. May we be found of that happy number.
vv31-35
The scope of the parable of the seed sown, is to show that the beginnings of the gospel would be small, but its latter end would greatly increase; in this way the work of grace in the heart, the kingdom of God within us, would be carried on. In the soul where grace truly is, it will grow really; though perhaps at first not to be discerned, it will at last come to great strength and usefulness. The preaching of the gospel works like leaven in the hearts of those who receive it. The leaven works certainly, so does the word, yet gradually. It works silently, and without being seen, Mr 4:26–29, yet strongly; without noise, for so is the way of the Spirit, but without fail. Thus it was in the world. The apostles, by preaching the gospel, hid a handful of leaven in the great mass of mankind. It was made powerful by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts, who works, and none can hinder. Thus it is in the heart. When the gospel comes into the soul, it works a thorough change; it spreads itself into all the powers and faculties of the soul, and alters the property even of the members of the body, Ro 6:13. From these parables we are taught to expect a gradual progress; therefore let us inquire, Are we growing in grace? and in holy principles and habits?
Key Words
ἡμέρα (hēméra): day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context)
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
ἐξέρχομαι (exérchomai): to issue (literally or figuratively)
ἀπό (apó): "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
οἰκία (oikía): properly, residence (abstractly), but usually (concretely) an abode (literally or figuratively); by implication, a family (especially domestics)
κάθημαι (káthēmai): and (to sit; akin to the base of G1476 (ἑδραῖος)); to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside
παρά (pará): properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account of)
θάλασσα (thálassa): the sea (genitive case or specially)
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
πολύς (polýs): (singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely
Cross References
Matthew 13Explicitly cited by Christ as being fulfilled in the spiritual dullness of the crowds.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Quoted to explain the judicial closing of eyes and hardening of the people's hearts.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Directly cited by Matthew as the prophetic testimony of Christ opening His mouth in parables.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Parallel statement of Jesus concerning a prophet being without honor in his own country.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel testimony that a prophet has no honor in his own country.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallel detailed exposition of the Parable of the Sower by Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Parallel account of the good soil, clarifying that fruit comes from an honest and good heart.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Prophetic parallel of the tiny beginnings of the kingdom growing to cover the earth.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Identifies the 'children of the wicked one' as belonging spiritually to their father, the devil.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct textual source for the righteous shining forth as the brightness of the firmament/sun.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Parallel question identifying Jesus as the carpenter and listing his named brothers and sisters.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Defines the good ground as those who hear the word with an honest, good heart.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Parallel NT usage of Isaiah's hardening prophecy to explain Israel's rejection of Jesus.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Paul uses the same Isaiah 6 prophecy to explain Jewish unbelief in Rome.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Confirms that Old Testament prophets searched and desired to see this gospel administration.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Exposes how Satan's ministers disguise themselves as apostles of Christ to sow false doctrine.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Parallels the final harvesting separation of the wheat from the chaff to be burned.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Apocalyptic parallel of the angel and the sickle, executing the final harvest of the earth.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Old Testament imagery of a massive tree offering shelter to birds, depicting global empire.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Ezekiel's tree branch where birds of every wing dwell, representing the kingdom's shelter.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Verbal link explaining how a tiny amount of leaven quickly influences the entire mass.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Identical twin parable of the leaven hidden in three measures of meal.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Judgment scene where the wicked are cast into everlasting fire prepared for the devil.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Exhortation to seek wisdom and understanding as hid treasures.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel account of the synagogue audience wondering at His gracious words and humble origins.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Parallel noting that Jesus could do no mighty works there because of unbelief.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel historical account of Jesus teaching the crowds from a boat on the sea.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Parallel praise of the Father for hiding mysteries from the wise and revealing them to babes.
Supported by JFB
Parallel instruction on taking heed, warning that what one seems to have will be lost.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Paul uses this judicial blindness motif to explain the partial hardening of Israel.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Parallel beatitude pronouncing the disciples blessed for seeing and hearing the Christ.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Exhortation to break up fallow ground and sow not among thorns.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Verbal link showing that the enemy sows error precisely 'while men slept.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
Paul’s warning of false teachers arising from within to draw disciples after themselves.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel description of the mustard seed as the smallest seed on earth growing large.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Refers to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began.
Supported by JFB