Matthew 13:24-30

May 11, 2011 05:35 AM v 30 completed  - On to next passage now.

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/13-24.htm" >24</a>Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

<a href="http://clarke.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm" >Clarke's Commentary on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>The kingdom of heaven - God's method of managing the affairs of the world, and the concerns of his Church.</li>

<li>Is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field - In general, the world may be termed the field of God; and in particular, those who profess to believe in God through Christ are his field or farm; among whom God sows nothing but the pure unadulterated word of his truth.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm" >Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>this is to show the difference of members in churches, some being comparable to good seed, and others to tares.</li>

<li>it is styled the kingdom of heaven, in distinction from the kingdoms of this world;</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://vws.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm" >Vincent's Word Studies</a>

<ul>

<li>Put he forth (παρέθηκεν) But this would be rather the translation of προβάλλω, from which πρόβλημα, a problem, is derived, while the word here used means rather to set before or offer. Often used of meals, to serve up. Hence, better, Rev., set he before them. See on <a href="http://bible.cc/luke/9-16.htm" >Luke 9:16</a>.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://pnt.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm" >People's New Testament</a>

<ul>

<li>13:24 The kingdom of heaven is likened. The object of all parables in this connection is to explain various features and principles of the kingdom of heaven.</li>

<li>Unto a man which sowed. It is important to note what the kingdom of heaven is likened to. It is not to the field in which the tares and wheat were both sown, nor to the enemy who sowed the tares, but to the man who sowed the good seed. The kingdom does what the Sower is represented as doing. It sows the good seed.</li>

<li>In his field. The controversy has turned upon what the Savior represents by the field. (1) It is not the kingdom, or church, for this is represented by the man that sowed good seed in his field. (2) It is the place where the good seed is sown by the Son of man, or through his agency; in other words, the place where the gospel is preached to men. (3) Mt 13:38 states emphatically that the field is the world.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://wes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm" >Wesley's Notes</a>

<ul>

<li>13:24 He proposed another parable - in which he farther explains the case of unfruitful hearers. The kingdom of heaven (as has been observed before) sometimes signifies eternal glory: sometimes the way to it, inward religion; sometimes, as here, the Gospel dispensation: the phrase is likewise used for a person or thing relating to any one of those: so in this place it means, Christ preaching the Gospel, who is like a man sowing good seed - The expression, is like, both here and in several other places, only means, that the thing spoken of may be illustrated by the following similitude. Who sowed good seed in his field - God sowed nothing but good in his whole creation. Christ sowed only the good seed of truth in his Church.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://mhc.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm" >Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary</a>

<ul>

<li>13:24-30, 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.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/13-25.htm" >25</a>But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm" >Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>"The tare abounds all over the East, and is a great nuisance to the farmer. It resembles the American "cheat (chess)," but the "head" does not droop like cheat, nor does it branch out like oats. The grain, also, is smaller, and is arranged along the upper part of the stalk, which stands perfectly erect. The "taste" is bitter, and when eaten separately, or even when diffused in ordinary bread, it causes dizziness, and often acts as a violent emetic. Barn-door fowls also become dizzy from eating it. In short, it is a strong soporific poison, and must be carefully winnowed, and picked out of the wheat grain by grain, before grinding, or the flour is not healthy. Even the farmers, who in this country generally "weed" their fields, do not attempt to separate the one from the other. They would not only mistake good grain for them, but very commonly the roots of the two are so intertwined that it is impossible to separate them without plucking up both. Both, therefore, must be left to "grow together" until the time of harvest." - (Thomson) "The Land and the Book," vol. ii. pp. 111, 112. Thus, "tares" aptly represented hypocrites in the church. Strongly resembling Christians in their experience, and, in some respects, their lives it is impossible to distinguish them from genuine Christians, nor can they be separated until it is done by the Great Searcher of hearts at the day of judgment. An enemy the devil hath done it. And nowhere has he shown profounder cunning, or done more to adulterate the purity of the gospel.</li>

<li>And went his way - There is something very expressive in this. He knew the soil; he knew how the seed would take root and grow. He had only to sow the seed and let it alone. So Satan knows the soil in which he sows his doctrine. He knows that in the human heart it will take deep and rapid root. It needs but little culture. Grace needs constant attendance and care. Error, and sin, and hypocrisy are the native products of the human heart, and, when left alone, start up with deadly luxuriancy.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://clarke.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm" >Clarke's Commentary on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>This word does not, I believe, occur in any of the Greek classics, nor in Dioscorides; but it may be seen in the Geoponica, or Greek writers De Re Rustica: see the edition by Niclas, vol. i. lib. ii. c. 43, where το ζιζανιον is said to be the same which the Greeks call αιρα; and Florentinus, the author, says, Το ζιζανιον, το λεγομενον Αιρα, φθειρει νον σιτον, αρτοις δε μιγνυμενη, σκοτοι τους εσθιοντας. "Zizanion, which is called αιρα, darnel, injures the wheat; and, mixed in the bread, causes dimness of the eyes to those who eat of it." And the author might have added vertigo also. But this does not seem to be the grain to which our Lord alludes.</li>

<li>The word ζιζανια, zizania, which is here translated tares, and which should rather be translated bastard or degenerate wheat, is a Chaldee word; and its meaning must be sought in the rabbinical writers. In a treatise in the Mishna called Kelayim, which treats expressly on different kinds of seeds, the word זונים zunim, or זונין zunin, is used for bastard or degenerated wheat; that which was wholly a right seed in the beginning, but afterwards became degenerate - the ear not being so large, nor the grains in such quantity, as formerly, nor the corn so good in quality. In <a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/psalms/144-13.htm" >Psalm 144:13</a>, the words מזן אל זן mizzan al zen, are translated all manner of store; but they properly signify, from species to species: might not the Chaldee word זונין zunin, and the Greek word ζιζανια, zizania, come from the psalmist's זנזן zanzan, which might have signified a mixture of grain of any kind, and be here used to point out the mixing bastard or degenerate wheat among good seed wheat? The Persic translator renders it telkh daneh, bitter grain; but it seems to signify merely degenerate wheat. This interpretation throws much light on the scope and design of the whole passage.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://mhc.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm" >Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary</a>

<ul>

<li>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.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/13-26.htm" >26</a>But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm" >Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>Then appeared the tares also - That is, then the tares were "first discovered." They had grown with the wheat, but were so much like it as not to be noticed until the wheat began to ripen.</li>

<li>So true piety and false hopes are not known by professions, by "blades," and leaves, and flowers, but by the fruit.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://clarke.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm" >Clarke's Commentary on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>When the blade was sprung up - then appeared the tares also - Satan has a shoot of iniquity for every shoot of grace; and, when God revives his work, Satan revives his also. No marvel, therefore, if we find scandals arising suddenly to discredit a work of grace, where God has begun to pour out his Spirit.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm" >Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>But when the blade was sprung up,.... That is, the blade of the wheat; which designs the taking up, a profession of religion on principles of grace, called a profession of faith; and when right, it springs up from, and proceeds upon a work begun in the heart: and such a profession ought to be made by all that are partakers of the grace of God; and ought to be made both verbally, by a confession of the mouth, and a declaration of the work of God upon the heart, and by deeds, by submitting to the ordinances of the Gospel; and should be sincere, and from the heart, and be visible to men, and be held fast unto the end without wavering.</li>

<li>And brought forth fruit; which intends not the conversion of sinners, nor the performance of duties, nor the perfection of grace, but the first appearances of grace under a profession, such as sorrow for sin, after a godly sort, fear and reverence of God, great humility, much self-denial, ardent love to Christ, pantings and breathings after him, and communion with him, strong affection for the people of God, some exercise of faith on Christ, zeal for his cause and interest, and a concern to honour and glorify God.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/13-27.htm" >27</a>So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

<a href="http://jfb.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm" >Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary</a>

<ul>

<li>and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?-This well expresses the surprise, disappointment, and anxiety of Christ's faithful servants and people at the discovery of "false brethren" among the members of the Church.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/13-28.htm" >28</a>He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

<a href="http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm" >Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>In the Greek text it is, "an enemy man"; and is so rendered in the several versions; meaning, not that the enemy was a man; for he was the devil, as in <a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/13-39.htm" >Matthew 13:39</a> but it is an Hebraism; such as in <a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/esther/7-6.htm" >Esther 7:6</a>, , "the man adversary and enemy" is this wicked Haman; and signifies a certain enemy, and one indeed that is an implacable enemy to man.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://pnt.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm" >People's New Testament</a>

<ul>

<li>Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? It has been assumed by one class of interpreters that this a question whether discipline shall be administered upon recreant church members. If the field in which the tares are growing with the wheat is the world, then it refers to something quite different.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://wes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm" >Wesley's Notes</a>

<ul>

<li>Open sinners, such as have neither the form nor the power, are not so properly darnel, as thistles and brambles: these ought to be rooted up without delay, and not suffered in the Christian community. Whereas should fallible men attempt to gather up the darnel, they would often root up the wheat with them.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://jfb.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm" >Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary</a>

<ul>

<li>28. He said unto them, An enemy hath done this-Kind words these from a good Husbandman, honorably clearing His faithful servants of the wrong done to his field.</li>

<li>The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?-Compare with this the question of James and John (Lu 9:54), "Lord, wilt Thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume" those Samaritans? In this kind of zeal there is usually a large mixture of carnal heat. (See Jas 1:20).</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/13-29.htm" >29</a>But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm" >Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>Ye root up also the wheat - They so much resembled the true wheat that even then it would be difficult to separate them.</li>

<li>By gathering them, they would tread down the wheat, loosen and disturb the earth, and greatly injure the crop. In the harvest it could be done without injury.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://gill.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>...a pure and perfect church cannot be expected in the present state of things; and that saints should not be immoderately uneasy, but patiently bear such exercises, until Christ's time is come to relieve them, when the tares and chaff shall be separated from the wheat; when sinners shall not stand in the congregation of the righteous, and there shall be no more a pricking briar, nor a grieving thorn in the house of Israel.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://jfb.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm" >Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary</a>

<ul>

<li>Nothing could more clearly or forcibly teach the difficulty of distinguishing the two classes, and the high probability that in the attempt to do so these will be confounded.</li>

</ul>

<a href="http://bible.cc/matthew/13-30.htm" >30</a> Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

<a href="http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/matthew/13.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a>

<ul>

<li>... this is the work of the enemy of man. They are not the work of Christianity any more than traitors are of patriotism, or counterfeiters are of the proper effect of legislating about money. They belong to the world, and hypocrisy is only one form of sin. The Christian religion never "made" a hypocrite, nor is there a hypocrite on the earth whose principles and practice it does not condemn.</li>

</ul>