Matthew 13:1

Mt 13:1-52. Jesus Teaches by Parables. ( = Mr 4:1-34; Lu 8:4-18; 13:18-20).

Introduction (Mt 13:1-3). 1. The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the seaside.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

MATTHEW CHAPTER 13

Verses 1,2. The sea side. This was the sea of Tiberias. The multitude stood on the shore near to him, so that he could be easily heard. He went into a ship--that is, a boat--and sat down to address them. Few spectacles could be more interesting than a vast crowd, on the banks of a smooth and tranquil sea--an emblem of his instructions-- and the Son of God addressing them on the great interests of eternity.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Introduction

Christ teaches the multitudes out of a ship, they standing on the shore, Mat 13:1, Mat 13:2. The parable of the sower, Mat 13:3-9. He gives his reasons for speaking in parables, Mat 13:10-17. Explains the parable of the sower, Mat 13:18-23. Parable of the tares and the wheat, Mat 13:24-30. Of the grain of mustard seed, Mat 13:31, Mat 13:32. Of the leaven, Mat 13:33. The prophecy fulfilled by this mode of teaching, Mat 13:34, Mat 13:35. He explains the parable of the tares and the wheat, Mat 13:36-43. Parable of the treasure hid in a field, Mat 13:44. Of the pearl-merchant, Mat 13:45, Mat 13:46. Of the dragnet, Mat 13:47-50. His application of the whole, Mat 13:51, Mat 13:52. He teaches in his own country, and his neighbors take offense, Mat 13:53-56. Our Lord's observations on this, Mat 13:57. He works no miracle among them because of their unbelief, Mat 13:58. Verse 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 Lord's life. Went Jesus out of the house - This was the house of Peter. See Mat 17:24. Sat by the sea side - The sea of Galilee, on the borders of which the city of Capernaum was situated.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

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)

Verses 1-23 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, He 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.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain