THE
PULPIT COMMENTARY, EDITED TIY TRF.
VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., DF:.\:'1 {)I-' GLOl'CESTER;
.um BY THE
REY. JOSEPH S, EXELL, M.A.
WITH
INTRODUCTIONS DY THE
VERY REV. F. W. FARIU.R, D.D., F.R.S., DEAN OF CANTERBDff. RIGHT REV. H. COTTERILL, D.D., F.R.S.E. VERY REV. PRI NCIP .A.L J. TULLOCH, D.D. REV. CANON G. RA "\VLINSON, M.A. REV. A. PL U:MMER, M.A., D.D.
NEW EDITION.
FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY LONDON AND NF.W YORK 1907 PRINTED BV WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLBS.
(Tu rizltts of translallo,s and reproiluellon art rtstrvtJ.) THE
PULPIT COMMENTARY, EDITJ',Jl BY TH1!l
VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., J>BAll OF GLOUOE~TBB;
.lND BY THB
REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.~.
ST. MATTHEW. Qhposltfon BY REV. A. LUKYN WILLIAMS, M.A., PRINCIPAL OP THE HEBREW MISSIONARY OOLLEGB OP THE LONDON SOCU:TY FOB PBOMOTJNG OBBISTIANITY AM:ONGST THE JEWS ; A.NI>
REV, W. J. DEANE, M.A., BECTOB OF ASHEN.
ll;!omflrtfcs BY REV. B. C. CAFFIN, M.A.t VICA!l 01" NORTHALLE!lTON AND RURAL DEAN; LATE FELLOW AND T1J'l"OB OF '\'l'ORCES'.rER COLLEGE, OXFOllD.
~omflfts b)l llatlous sa utbors. REV, PROF. W. F. ADENEY, M.A. REV. PROF. MARCUS DODS, D.D. REV, P. U. BAHKER, 111.A., LL.B. IlEV. J. A, MACDONALD, Il.EV. U. TUCK, B.A.
VOL. II. NEW EDITION,
FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY LONDON AND NEW YOHK 1~07 TTIE
GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW EXPOSITION. (c) Vera. 36--52. A series wholly peculiaJ CHAPTER XIII. to Olll' Gospel, confe.ining matter e.ddresll,,,""1 A few rema1·ks by way of introduction to to the disciples a.lone (the explanation of the the che.racteristic portion of this chapter pe.re.ble of the tares, e.nd the three parables (vers. 1-52). of the treasure, the pee.rl, e.nd the drag-net), (1) Wehe.ve here e. collection of the Lord's ending with e. special promise to disciples as pe.re.bles, a.II spoken, e.s H would e.ppee.r, e.t such. 11n ee.rly period in his ministry, descriptive (2) But although this chapter is e.ppe.rently of the principles of the kingdom of heaven the result of growth and development, this e.s they make themselves felt in history, e.nd does not exclude the probability that it is no of the we.yin which those who a.re brought cha.nee collection of fragmentary parables, into contact with the kingdom ought to a.et. but rather e. mosaic of which the several As the chapter stands, it consists of three parts stand in artistic relation to each other chief parts, which probably roughly corre- e.nd a.re intended to form one whole. Accord- epoud to three stages of development in its ing to Bengel, e.nd bis opinion has been es- composition. sentially adopted by many writers, the seven (a) Vers. 1-23, e.leo in Mark o.nd Luke, parables form a prophecy of seven ages of except some characteristic enlargements in the Church : the first e.nd second parables vers. 10-17. The section contains the describing the apostolic e.nd sub-apostolic parable of the sower and its interpretation, periods ; the third e.nd folll'tb, the spread together with e. statement of our Lord's of the kingdom o.mong princes o.nd amongst reasons for teaching by pe.rables. This is so the whole hnmo.n race (referring more nearly akin to the fundamental lesson of the especially to the fourth o.nd the ninth cen- first paro.blo, that we cannot be surprised turies); the fifth, the more hidden condition that the two should be recorded together. of the Church (" the reign of the beo.st, e.nd They seem, indeed, to have formed the the Reformation"); the sixth, the time when nucleus of the whole collection. the kingdom of heo.ven shall be valued above (b) Vere. 24-35, of which vers. 31, 82 all else, e.nd Satan be bound; the seventh, alone are found both in Mark and Luke. the last confusion. But this is singule.rly im- Vers. 84, 35 also are represented in Mark, e.gine.tive, and e.t the very most can only be besides some expressions occurring in vers. 24 so far true that the tendencies described -SO. This pa.rt con£e.ins the pare.hies of tho under each pa.re.hie may possibly, one can- tares, the mustard seed, and the leaven, and e. not se.y more, be stronger e.t the several statement that our Lord spoke in parables to times referred to than e.t others. the multitudes, together with a passage from It is for more natural to see in the parable~ the Old Testament illuetrnting his doing so. e. summary by our Lord of certain principle• MATTHEW-IL B 2 'l'HE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MA'l'TJIEW. [err. xm. 1-68,