17 your ears for they hear. For verily I say unt you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.*

18

Understand ye therefore the parable of the 19 sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom,† and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is 20 he who received seed by the way-side. But

he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and at once 21 receives it with joy; yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while for when tribulation, or persecution ariseth because of

22 the word, by and by he is offended. He also

that received seed among the thorns, is he that heareth the word; and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the 23 word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground, is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty.

There was a general expectation in the world of the coming of some great prophet to reveal the will of God to nan, and holy men ainong the Jews particularly had long been desirous of the appearance of the Messiah.

† Of the gospel, or the doctrines concerning the kingdom of heaven. When through inattention and carelessness, any one does not understand it, then the wicked one takes it away that is, leads them to forget it.

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven may be likened unto a man who sowed good seed in his 25 field. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went 26 his way. But when the blade was sprung up,

and brought forth fruit, then appeared the 27 tares also. So the servants of the house⚫ holder came, and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence 28 then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this.* The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and 29 gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest, while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also 30 the wheat with them. 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.

24

31

Another parable he put forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took and 32 sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds; but, when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree,

Thus it is plainly asserted, contrary to the opinions of some, that moral evil comes not from God, but from the great adversary of souls. We are also instructed by this passage, not to be very rigid irdiscipline, lest we separate those from the church of Christ, who are really the ohildren of God.

so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

33

Another parable he spake unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of 34 meal, till the whole was leavened.* All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto 35 them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of 36 the world. Then Jesus sent the multitude away,

and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain unto us the parable 37 of the tares of the field. He answered and

said unto them, He that soweth the good seed 38 is the Son of man; the field is the world;

the good seed are the children of the kingdom, but the tares are the children of the wicked 39 one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world ;* and the 40 reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares

are gathered and burnt in the fire; so shall it 41 be in the end of this world; the Son of man

shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and 42 them who do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing 43 and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righ

* Some of these parables have reference to the rapid pro gress of Christianity in the heathen world.

Or the conclusion of the Jewish state.

44

teous shine forth as the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear let him hear.*

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; which, when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

45

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto 46 a merchant-man seeking goodly pearls: Who when he had found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

47

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered 48 of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the 49 good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So

shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from 50 among the just, and shall cast them into the

furnace of fire there shall be wailing and 51 gnashing of teeth. Then Jesus saith unto them,

Have ye understood all these things? They 52 say unto him, Yea, Lord. Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, is like unto a man that is an householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

53

And it came to pass, that when Jesus had

* The doctrine contained in this parable is most solemu and impressive. Here we are taught that Christ will finally judge the world in righteousness, and render to every one according to their deeds.

finished these parables, he departed thence. 54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty 55 works? Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, 56 James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas ?* and

his sisters are they not all with us? whence 57 then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in .58 his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.†

*These persons were not strictly speaking the brethren of Jesus, but his relatives: and such were generally called a man's brethren by the Jews. Some critics suppose, for Joses, we should read John or Joseph, which in the original are spelled very much alike.

† But some are ready to assert that unbelief, being involuntary, deserves greater evidence for its conviction. Where unbelief is absolutely unavoidable, this may be the case. But not, where it is owing to a disposition hostile to truth and to unreasonable prejudices. It then does not deserve more proof, nor would it yield to an increase of evidence. With infidels generally in Christian countries, it is owing, not to want of evidence, that they refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ as a divine Teacher; but for want of attention, or of good dispositions, and honesty to own what they believe at heart. Like the Jews of old, they ask for some new evidence when there is much already given, as remarkable as what they demand.