kingdom of heaven ; His is the world ; cf. ver. 24, with ver. 3$. — f3agi7.<ias, the kingdom) which is the kingdom of grace. — tfxavciaXa, stumbling-blocks) obstacles, which had hindered the good seed even in the case of others. The punishment of these is peculiarly great.1
42. Ka; /3a\oijsiv, and they shall cast) This is repeated in the same words in ver. 50.
43. TOTS, then) After the ungodly have been removed. — ixX<£/f4/ovAi'j they shall shine forth) They shall not burn as the ungodly, but they shall shine forth, singly, and much more, collectively.2 The same word is employed by the LXX. in Dan. xii. 3. — ro\J Tla,rpb$ ctvruv, of their Father) who is righteous and glorious. How great is the difference of the righteous from the children of the wicked one ! see ver. 38. — 6 'i^uv SITU, x.r.X., he that hath ears, etc.) A formula suited, not only to the people, but also to the disciples.
44. &qffavpifj, treasure, store) Not of corn,3 but of gold, gems, etc. — xtxpv/AfjLivu — ixpv-^f, hidden — he hid) It had escaped the notice of him who found it ; then, when he found it, he con cealed it from others. He hid it in the same field in which he found it. Such are the earnestness and prudence of the saints ; see Prov. vii. 1. They find the things which are hidden ; they hide them when found. The finding the treasure does not pre suppose the seeking for it, as in the case of the pearls, which are found by diligent search. — %ap«£, for joy) Spiritual joy is an incentive to deny the world. — aurov, of it) i.e. the treasure ; or else it is an adverb.4 — u-raye/, departeth) In the present tense, as •rwXs/; he sells — a~/opd?si, he buys. In ver. 46, the preterite is put. The state follows the act.5
45. Ovpavuv — avdpuKw, of the heavens — to a man) Comparisons of heavenly from human things. See ver. 52 ; ch. xviii. 23, xx.
1 TSJI/ duo/Aiow, iniquity) for their part — to the utmost of their ability, and as far as in them lies. — V. g.
2 What can be sweeter, even to think of, than this ? — V. g.
3 Cf. Jer. xli. 8.— B. G. V.
4 Meaning " THERE." In which case, instead of "for joy THEREOF," the passage would be rendered "for the joy which he has found or stored up THERE, sc. in the field." — (I. B.)
6 Toy d-ypov imtvov, that field) with the treasure. If thou art influenced by the desire of true gain, follow this parable. — V. g.