vp6ff'/.aipt>f, taken alone, expresses somewhat good, but without perseverance ; it is therefore followed here by the adversative particle ds, but, and in Mark iv. 17, by tJra, afterwards. — ^X/^£w;, affliction) generally. — &«y,«.&D, persecution) specifically.1 — 8/a rbv Xoyov, because of the word} when it is propagated by the mouth and expressed by the life. — e&i/g, immediately) That which is quickly produced, perishes quickly.2
22. 'H CCTCCT-J) TO(J nXovrou, the deceitfulness of riches)3 Riches remove the soul from that tranquillity which is here opposed to the care of this ivorld.4 — axapcros ytvtrat, becometh unfruitful} sc. the word in man becometh so (see Mark iv. 19) ; i.e., the word in him who hears it does not arrive at good and perfect fruit fit for use : the man bringeth no fruit to perfection, ou
Luke viii. 14. Thomas Magister 5 says, gtixapr xapirog effn ^prtffi/Moc a.v^pu'ffoig tic rpofqv cixap^a, <rb svavriov, div ro/g \j ^pZtvrai oi a&pu-Troi' axapKov ds, TO pri <JTOIOVV xupirbv, tap v va\ai£>v ivprirai : i.e., " Trees which are styled ewapKa, are those, the fruit (Kapxdg) of which is serviceable for food to men : axa^ra, on the other hand, are those, the fruit of which men do not use for food : but cixapvov, in the sense of having no fruit, is not found in any of the ancients."
23. "O;, ivlio) sc. the hearer; cf. Mark iv. 20: otherwise og might also be referred to rbv Xo'yoc, the word. — xapvopope?, beareth fruit} sc. perfect fruit. — o ph — o di — o de, some — some — some} The pronoun o is clearly here in the accusative neuter ; for the
1 Persecution can be brought to bear against one either by an unkind side look, or by a jesting speech added in the way of mockery. — V. g.
2 2x«v§aA/£Ws«/) He is offended, and therefore relapses into unbelief. -V. g. _
3 Which is manifold in its varieties of form, and which, though it de ceives men in an awful manner, yet scarcely ever seems to them worth while being taken into consideration at all. — V- g.
* 'SvftTri/t'/ti, choke) Many engage in the discussion (treating) of the Word of GOD in such a way as if the heart were not a field in which the seed is to remain and grow, but a granary which can contain at one time less stores, at another time more — at one time something, at another time nothing. -V. g.
5 THOMAS MAGISTKR, surnamed THEODULUS (0EOAOTAO2, The Servant of GOD), was a Monk and a Grammarian, who flourished at the beginning of the fourteenth century. Saxius describes him as " vocum Atticarum nui- gister."— (I. B.)