This word differs from the simple verb <jr\i)povrai (is now being fulfilled}, which is employed elsewhere in citing prophecies. The saying of Isaiah (vi. 9) was being fulfilled in his own days, and in the ages Avhich followed, and also clearly and especially in the days of the Messiah. — dxojj, x.r.X., by hearing, etc.) i.e. by however little you come short, yet you shall come short [of understanding what ye hear to the salvation of your souls].
15. 'BflWj^fo&ij yap 7i xapdlu, rov XaoD rovrou, FOB this people s heart is waxed gross} It stands thus in the S. V. ; but in the Hebrew there is no word corresponding to the Greek yap, for. The language, however, rapidly turns itself away from them.1 — jj xapdi'a, the heart, ro?z uffi — rovg d<p$a,\urjijs, with their ears, their eyes) These three occur again immediately in the opposite order : " with their eyes," " with their ears," " with their heart." The heart is the first in the beginning, the last in the end. From the heart corruption flows into the ears and eyes ; through the eyes and ears health2 reaches the heart. — sxdwjffuv — ^jj-rors — /ds'jj^ai avrovc, they have closed, lest at any time I should heal them) God therefore had wished to heal them ; and it is clear that healing was close to them, if they had only turned to it. In Mark iv. 12, we read " KU.I d<p&y avroTs ru &ftnfr^ftaret ;" i.e. " and their sins be forgiven them." Cf. Ps. ciii. 3. — auvuffi, should un derstand) The seat3 of evnatc,, understanding, and voqffig, percep tion, is the heart, not the brain : this is equally true of xupuaig, hardening (see John xii. 40), and of <rxora<r/a,<>s, darkening (see Rom. i. 21) ; as also of amar/a, unbelief, and cr/Vr/j, faith, which is followed by txiarpo^, conversion*
1 " Sermo autem celeriter se ab iis avcrtit." This is one of many in stances where it is impossible to find an English equivalent to the Latin " Sermo." Bengel's meaning is, that whereas, in ver. 9, God had commanded the prophet to go and speak to the Jews, saying, " Hear ye indeed, but understand not ; and see ye indeed, but perceive not," in ver. 8, He sud denly changes the Sermo, i.e. the mode of speech, the direction of His words ; and, instead of desiring Isaiah to address the people, turns from them, as it were, and gives an injunction to the prophet, regarding them, it is true, but not addressed to them : sc. " Make the heart of this people fat, etc." — (I. B.)
2 " Sanitas," lit. soundness, an expression applied indifferently to mind or body, as in the well-known passage of Juvenal : —
"Ut sit mens sana in corpere sano." — (1. B.) 8 '' Subjectum quo." — (I. B.) * u The Hebrew accents undoubtedly connect the words xa.1 i-rurrptyaat
286 ST MATTHEW XIII. Hi- 21.
16. 'O^aX/io/ — aira, eyes — ears) i.e. those of your body, above the saints of the Old Testament ; those of your soul, above the people now present. Their eyes and ears were the subject of which blessedness could be predicated.1
17. TlpotpyTai, prophets) See Gnomon on 1 Pet. i. 10, 12. — £cr£^6//,?;<Tax, have desired) And that desire was pious and precious in the sight of God : see Gnomon on John viii. 56. — ovx. tlbov.
o '
have not seen) See Heb. xi. 13, 39.
18. '"*>£/£, you) in contradistinction to the people. — ro\j <nrti- povros, of the Sower) i.e. so called from the Sower.
19. MJ? auvtsvros, understandeth it not) The verb ffwievai signifies to understand.2 The Evil One, or devil, who especially, rather than his angels, is meant by the fowls of the air, has less power over those things which have entered into the avvisig, or tinder standing. — apvdfyi, catcheth away) sc. with violence and quick cunning, like a bird of prey ; see ver. 4. — iv ry xap diet, in his heart. — 6 e^afti^ he that is soion) i.e. as a farm is sown.