Bible Commentaries
Matthew 13

Verse 1

Verse 1

Sea-side; the shore of the Sea of Tiberias.

Verse 11

Verse 11

Mysteries; truths before unknown.

Verse 15

Verse 15

Lest at any time, &c., that is, their eyes and ears were wilfully closed against the truth. The sentiment of this answer of our Savior's, the meaning of which is rendered still more plain by the parallel passages, (Mark 4:11,Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10,) is, that, while divine truth is so revealed that the docile and spiritually-minded, and all really desirous to learn of him, can easily understand it, yet it is so presented that the captious, the proud, and the evil-minded, may hear and not understand. A veil covers and conceals the spiritual meaning, though it is a veil easily to be removed by all who wish to remove it.

Verse 18

Verse 18

Hear ye; hear ye the explanation.

Verse 20

Verse 20

Anon; immediately.

Verse 21

Verse 21

Are offended; take offence at the gospel, and apostatize.

Verse 31

Verse 31

Mustard-seed. The mustard plant of Palestine is said to have been of much larger growth than the one known by that name among us.

Verse 33

Verse 33

The idea intended by both these similitudes is, that the Redeemer's kingdom, though destined to be great and widely extended at last, was to commence by small beginnings, and in a noiseless and unobtrusive manner,--entirely contrary to the prevailing expectations among the Jews.

Verse 36

Verse 36

The house; the house in which he dwelt in Capernaum.--Declare unto us; explain unto us.

Matthew 13:38-43. It would seem impossible to teach more plainly than it is taught in this language, that there is day of judgment and retribution to come, after this life is ended; and that those who shall then be condemned will find themselves involved in hopeless and eternal ruin.

Verse 52

Verse 52

Every scribe instructed, &c.; every well-instructed teacher of the gospel.

Verse 54

Verse 54

His own country; Nazareth.

Verse 55

Verse 55

His brethren; near relatives, perhaps cousins. The words signifying the various degrees of relationship were used among the Jews with great latitude. The reason for supposing the persons here referred to to be the cousins of our Lord, is that apparently the same person who is named in John 19:25, as our Savior's mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, is mentioned, in Matthew 27:56, as the mother of James and Joses.