Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 5.djvu/152

146 And we must not take it ill of our friends, nor put it upon the score of their wickedness, if they prefer the pleasing of God before the pleasing of us; but we must readily forgive those neglects, which may be easily imputed to a pious zeal for God's glory and others' good. Nay, We must deny ourselves and our own satisfaction, rather than do that which may any way divert our friends from, or distract them in, their duty to God.

2. He took that occasion to prefer his disciples, who were his spiritual kindred, before his natural relations as such; which was a good reason why he would not leave preaching to speak with his brethren. He would rather be profiting his disciples, than pleasing his relations. Observe,

(1.) The description of Christ's disciples. They are such as do the will of his Father; not only hear it, and know it, and talk of it, but do it; for doing the will of God is the best preparative for discipleship, (John 7. 17.) and the best proof of it; (ch. 7. 21.) that denominates us his disciples indeed. Christ does not say, "Whosoever shall do my will," for he came not to seek or do his own will distinct from his Father's: his will and his Father's are the same; but he refers us to his Father's will, because now in his present state and work he referred himself to it, John 6. 38.

(2.) The dignity of Christ's disciples: The same is my brother, and sister, and mother. His disciples, that had left all to follow him, and embraced his doctrine, were dearer to him than any that were akin to him according to the flesh. They had preferred Christ before relations; they left their Father, (ch. 4. 22.—10. 37.) and now to make them amends, and to show that there was no love lost, he preferred them before his relations. Did not they hereby receive, in point of honour, an hundred fold? ch. 19. 29. It was very endearing and very encouraging for Christ to say, Behold my mother and my brethren; yet it was not their privilege alone, this honour have all the saints. Note, All obedient believers are near akin to Jesus Christ. They wear his name, bear his image, have his nature, are of his family. He loves them, converses freely with them as his relations. He bids them welcome to his table, takes care of them, provides for them, sees that they want nothing that is fit for them; when he died, he left them rich legacies, now he is in heaven he keeps up a correspondence with them, and will have them all with him at last, and will in nothing fail to do the kinsman's part, (Ruth 3. 13.) nor will ever be ashamed of his poor relations, but will confess them before men, before the angels, and before his Father.

CHAP. XIII.

In this chapter, we have, I. The favour which Christ did to his countrymen in preaching the kingdom of heaven to them, v. 1, 2. He preached to them in parables, and here gives the reason why he chose that way of instructing, v. 10..17. And the evangelist gives another reason, v. 34, 35. There are eight parables recorded in this chapter, which are designed to represent the kingdom of heaven, the method of planting the gospel-kingdom in the world, and of its growth and success. The great truths and laws of that kingdom are in other scriptures laid down plainly, and without parables; but some circumstances of its beginning and progress are here laid open in parables. 1. Here is one parable to show what are the great hindrances of people's profiting by the word of the gospel, and in how many it comes short of its end, through their own folly, and that is the parable of the four sorts of ground, delivered, v. 3..9. and expounded v. 18..23. 2. Here are two parables intended to show that there would be a mixture of good and bad in the gospel-church, which would continue till the great separation between them in the judgment-day: the parable of the tares put forth, (v. 24..30.) and expounded at the request of the disciples; (v. 36..43.) and that of the net cast into the sea, v. 47..50. 3. Here are two parables intended to show that the gospel-church should be very small at first, but that in process of time it should become a considerable body; that of the grain of mustard-seed, (v. 31, 32.) and that of the leaven, v. 33. 4. Here are two parables, intended to show that those who expect salvation by the gospel must be willing to venture all, and quit all, in the prospect of it, and that they shall be no losers by the bargain; that of the treasure hid in the field, (v. 44.) and that of the pearl of great price, v. 45,46. 5. Here is one parable intended for direction to the disciples, to make use of the instructions he had given them for the benefit of others; and that is the parable of the good householder, v. 51, 52. II. The contempt which his countrymen put upon him on account of the meanness of his parentage, v. 53..58.

HE same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea-side. 2. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow: 4. And when he sowed, some seeds fell on the way-side, and the fowls came and devoured them up. 5. Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth; and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6. And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them. 8. But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundred-fold, some sixty- fold, some thirty-fold. 9. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10. And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11. He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing, see not; and hearing, they hear not; neither do they understand. 14. And in them 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: 15. For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16. But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. 17. For verily I say unto 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