shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it, Matt. vii. 26, 27. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away, Luke viii. 13. Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, Col. i. 28. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving, ii. 7.

VER. 7.

*Αλλα δὲ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὰς ἀκάνθας, καὶ ἀνέβησαν αἱ ἀκανθαι, καὶ ἀπέπνιξαν αὐτά. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up and choked them:

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful, ver. 22. For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings, Jer. iv. 3, 4. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful, Mark iv. 18, 19.

VER. 8.

Αλλα δὲ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν τὴν καλὴν, nai édidov napπòv, ô μèv énatòv, ô dè inποντα, ὃ δὲ τριάκοντα.

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some thirty, ver. 23. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience, Luke viii. 15. b Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him, Gen. xxvi. 12. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples, John xv. 8. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law, Gal. v. 22, 23. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God, Phil. i. 11.

VER. 9.

Ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν, ἀκουέτω.

Who ahath ears to hear, let him hear. a See parallels on ver. 15. chap. xi. VER. 10.

Καὶ προσελθόντες οἱ μαθηταὶ, εἶπον αὐτῷ· Διατί ἐν παραβολαῖς λαλεῖς αὐτοῖς ;

And the disciples came, and said unto him, a Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

a And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable, Mark iv. 10. And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples, 33, 34.

VER. 11.

δέδοται γνῶναι τὰ μυστήρια τῆς βασιλείας 'Ο δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς, εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Οτι ὑμῖν τῶν οὐρανῶν, ἐκείνοις δὲ οὐ δέδοται.

He answered and said unto them, the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, a Because it is given unto you to know but to them it is not given.

a At that time Jesus answered

and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the

a But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, an hundredfold, some sixty,

some

them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight, Matt. xi. 25, 26. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my

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:

Father which is in heaven, xvi. 17. Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way, Ps. xxv. 8, 9. The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant, 14. The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel, Isa. xxix. 19. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called, The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein, xxxv. 8. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables, Mark iv. 11. And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand, Luke viii. 10. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her, x. 39-42. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself, John vii. 17. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul, Acts. xvi. 14. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few, xvii. 11, 12. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen,

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Do

nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God, 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? iv.7. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him, Jam. i. 5. not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures, 16-18. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him, 1 John ii. 27.

b Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, Rom. xvi. 25. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory, 1 Cor. ii. 7. Let a man so account of us, as of the mimisters of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God, iv. 1. And though I

have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge? and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing, xiii. 2. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, xv. 51. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself, Ephes. i. 9. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church, v. 52.

And for me,

VER. 12.

Ὅστις γὰρ ἔχει, δοθήσεται αὐτῷ, καὶ περισσευθήσεται· ὅστις δὲ οὐκ ἔχει, καὶ ὅ ἔχει, ἀρθήσεται ἀπ ̓ αὐτοῦ.

For a whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from bhim shall be taken away even that he hath.

a For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath, Matt. xxv. 29. And he saith unto them, Take heed what ye hear with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath, Mark, iv. 24, 25. Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have, Luke viii. 18. And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he

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hath shall be taken away from him' xix. 24-26. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing, John xv. 2—5.

b Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof, Matt. xxi. 43. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up ; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but trodden down; And I will lay it waste; there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold, oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry, Isa. v. 4-7. What shall therefore the Lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others, Mark xii. 9. But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her, Luke x. 42. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God, xii. 20, 21. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward, xvi. 2. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime

receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented, 25. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent, Rev. ii. 5. know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth, iii. 15, 16.

VER. 13.

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Διὰ τούτο ἐν παραβολαῖς αὐτοῖς λαλῶ, ὅτι βλέποντες οὐ βλέπουσι, καὶ ἀκούοντες

οὐκ ἀκούουσιν, οὐδὲ συνιοῦσι.

Therefore speak I to them in parables: a because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they

understand.

a But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear, Matt. xiii. 16. The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day, Deut. xxix. 3, 4. Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD's servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not, Isa. xlii. 18-20. They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand, xliv. 18. Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not, Jer. v. 21. Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not for they are a rebellious house, Ezek. xii. 2. And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye

VER. 14.

Καὶ ἀναπληροῦται ἐπ ̓ αὐτοῖς ἡ προφη τεία Ησαΐου, ἡ λέγουσα· ̓Ακοῇ ἀκούσετε, καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε· καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε.

And in them a is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

a And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and See ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed, Isa. vi. 9, 10. That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them, Mark iv. 12. And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand, Luke viii. 10. Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded