The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 2

~l1ich are always at work, i.e. "the ideas ' Pe.mllel passages : MArk iv. 1-9; Luke and laws, not the actual fllCts, of the Church's viii. 4-8. history" (Trench,' Pn,rables,' p. 142). Thus we have the leading thoughts of the dis- Ver. 1.-The same day; on that day (Ro- vieed Version). Although day is sometimes semination and reception of the kingdom of used in a. metaphorical souse, so as to inolude God (the sower), the obstacles to its success what is: in fact, a. l!?ng period of time (e.g. that exist even within its borders (the tares), Luke v1. 23; Mnrk 11. 20; cf. also John xiv. its external and internal influence (the 20; xvi. 23, 26; and pos-3ibly e,en Aci;s viii." mustard seed and the leaven), the need for 1), yet we are not justified in assigning this making it a personal possession, cost what it sense to it unless the context clearly requires us to do so. This is not t.he case here, so may, especially as it iR worth all else (the thnt we must assume that a literal day is treasure and the pearl), and the necessity of intended. Bu~ which day? Naturally, the personal holiness if the benefit of being day that ha.s Just before been mentioned within it is not to be lost. either in the original source from which ou; (S) It will !Jave been noticed that onr narrative is to.ken or in the narrative as it now stands. Since, however, eh. xii. 46-50 Lord did not use parables in the enrlier part and our vers. 1-23 appear to have been of his ministry (even eh. vii. 24, sqq., is hardly already connected in the framework (as is more thnn an illustration), and that when he seen from their being in the same rela.tive began to use them it was a matter of surprise position in Mark), these supposed a.lterne.- to his disciples, who asked him his reason tives really represent the same thing, tht, for doiug so (ver. 10). This was, as appears which phrase probably referring to the day 011 our Lord's mother and brethren from ver. 12, because of the value of parables sought to speak to him (eh. xii. 46). Went; as a means of Kpfrrn. Just as his coming wa.a Jesus out of the house. Where he had been in itself to test men's hearts, and to a.et when his mother ea.me (eh. xii. 46, note), and upon them according to their moral slate presumably the one to which be returned (John ix. 39; cf. iii. 19; Luke ii. 35), so in in ver. 36. Possibly it wa.s St. Peter's house at Capernaum (eh. viii. H). And eat (eh. measure were all his sayings. But if " the v. I, note). By the sea.-side. Until the primary end [of a parable] everywhere is to crowds compelled him to enter the boat. place the doctrine, as yet unknown t.o the Ver. 2.-And great multitudes were hearers, so directly before their eyes that gathered together 1lllto him, so that he went they shall intuiti1Jely recognize its truth" into a ship. The article wrongly inserted (Goebel, 'Parables,' p. 15), it is evident that in the Received Text ('rb ,r;\.oiov) suggests that it was the boat which, a.s soine think, a parable was especially calculated to form a. waited upon him. (For another occa.sion ~st of the morn! state of those to whom it when he taught from a boat, cf. Luke v. 3.) W8.11 spoken. If they did not really ea.re for And sa.t; and the whole multitude stood; spiritual thiDgs, they would, either from was standing. The position of /u--rr,,m at sheer moral inability or from a lazy unwil- the end of the sentence in the Greek em- lingness to apply their a.ttention or make compelledphasizes their attitude. Their numbers it, and they disregn,rded the further inquiries, fail to catch the lesson fatigue. Further, the tense (pluperf.,equiva- which the para.hie was intended to convey; lent to imperf.) pictures them as patiently while if they were in a fa.vourable state for standing ther<l. On the shore; beach (Revised its reception, they would learn fresh truth Version); l,rl -rbv al"fu1.l1.011: i.e. this pa.rt at fr,)m it. Bnt if parables were so valuable least of the shore wos covered with sand or why did not our Lord employ them from the pebbles. Possibly we have signs of an eye- witness, both in the exact description of the beginning of his ministry? JUBt because spot, and in the vividness of the /u-nl,m they 'il'ere ro decisive in their effects. He (comp. John i. 35, al,; and Bishop Westcott's wished at first to be as plain-spoken as pos- rema.rks in Fapositor, III. v. 248; cf., too, iible, but when he saw that in the majority Introduction, p. xii.). ef his hearers his words produced no spiritua.l Ver. 3.-And he spake many things, Of which but a few are here recorded'(cf. vers. result, he then employed a. method of teach- 34, 51). Unto them in para.blea. Taking ing which should bring out their chara.eters the expression In the widest sense, " speak- more clearly (cf. further vers. 10-17, o.nd ing in parables" began in the very earliest notes). ages, when natural or spiritual truths were described under figures taken from every- Vere. 1-9.-The parable of tl,e soicer. day life, and continues until the presout ·cu. xm. 1-58.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 3