because they repented at the preaching of Jonas, and a greater than Jonas is here. 42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the day of judgment against this generation, and shall condemn it, because, she came from the farthermost bounds of the earth, to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and a greater than Solomon is here. 43 When an unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, in quest of some repose, but finding none, 44 He says, I will return to my house, from whence I came out; and at his return, findeth it empty, swept and neat; 45 He goes and takes with him seven other spirits, more wicked than himself; they enter in, they dwell there; and the last of that man is worse than the first. In the same manner it shall happen to this wicked generation. ver. 42. 1 Kings x. 1. 2 Chron. ix. 1. Luke xi. 31. v. 45. 2 Pet. fi. 20, 21. Heb. vi. 4. x. 26. Shall condemn it.] i. e. Shall cause it to be condemned, as Heb. xi. 7. and ver. 28 of this chapter. A greater than Jonas is here.] Gr. And behold, &c. Thus in the next verse, And behold more than Solomon. ver. 42. The queen of the south.] That is of Sheba, or Saba, in Arabia Felix, or the south of Judea. The From the farthermost bounds, &c.] The kingdom of Saba extended as far as the ocean, and was the extremity of the earth on that side. The wisdom of Solomon.] That is, the learning of Solomon. Greeks were wont to give the name of wisdom to the knowledge of divine and human things, of nature and religion. This was the wisdom which the Egyptians boasted of, Acts vii. 22. and the Grecian philosophers professed. v. 43. When an unclean spirit, &c.] This is a comparison that is explained in the 45th verse. See the note on Matt. x. 1. Through dry places.] i. e. In deserts, wherein, as the Jews fancied, the devils were wont to reside. See Isa. xiii. 21. according to the LXX. v. 45. Seven other spirits.] i. e. Many, John v. i. 1 Sam. ii. 5. It shall happen.] The Jews had often been severely punished by God, they as often repented, and God forgave them. But at last they provoked him to destroy them, by obstinately rejecting the Gospel, and crucifying Jesus Christ. Then it was, that instead of one devil wherewith they had been till that time tormented, they were for ever tormented by an infinite number of evil spirits. Compare Heb. vi. 4, 5, 6. 2 Pet. ii. 20, 21, 22. 46 AS JESUS was yet discoursing to the people, his mother and his brothers stood without, and wanted to speak with him. 47 Upon which, one said to him, Your mother and brothers are without, and desire to speak with you. 48 But JESUS replied to him that spake to him; Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? 40 And pointing with his hand towards his disciples, Behold, says he, my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever shall do the will of my Father, who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. CHAPTER XIII. Parable of the sower, 1-9. Why Christ spake in parables, 10-15. Explication of that of the sower. Advantage of the disciples, 16-23. Parable of the tares, 24-30. Of the mustard seed. Of the leavened, 31-35. That of the tares explained, 36-43. The hidden treasure. The pearl of great price. The net, 44-50. The scribe well qualified, 51 Christ despised in his own country. 53–58. -52. 1 THE same day JESUS being gone out of the house, ver. 46. Mark iii. 31. Luke viii. 19. v. 1. Mark iv. 1. Luke viii. 4. v. 50. This is an excellent most righteous person is He takes upon him the Deut. xxxiii. 9. What v. 46. His brothers.] See Matt. xiii. 55. Whoever shall do the will, &c.] saying, whereby our Saviour declares that the the nearest and dearest to him in the world. beautiful character which is given to Levi. constitutes the children of God, is what makes the kindred and brethren of the Son of God. Compare Luke xi. 27, 28. and Matt. v. 9. 45. ver. 1. The same day.] This is the plain and literal meaning of the original, and it may be understood of the day when the mother and because they repented at the preaching of Jonas, and a greater than Jonas is here. 42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the day of judgment against this generation, and shall condemn it, because, she came from the farthermost bounds of the earth, to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and a greater than Solomon is here. 43 When an unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, in quest of some repose, but finding none, 44 He says, I will return to my house, from whence I came out; and at his return, findeth it empty, swept and neat; 45 He goes and takes with him seven other spirits, more wicked than himself; they enter in, they dwell there; and the last of that man is worse than the first. In the same manner it shall happen to this wicked generation. ver. 42. 1 Kings x. 1. 2 Chron. ix. 1. Luke xi. 31. v. 45. 2 Pet. fi. 20, 21. Heb. vi. 4. x. 26. Shall condemn it.] i. e. Shall cause it to be condemned, as Heb. xi. 7. and ver. 28 of this chapter. A greater than Jonas is here.] Gr. And behold, &c. Thus in the next verse, And behold more than Solomon. ver. 42. The queen of the south.] That is of Sheba, or Saba, in Arabia Felix, or the south of Judea. From the farthermost bounds, &c.] The kingdom of Saba extended as far as the ocean, and was the extremity of the earth on that side. The wisdom of Solomon.] That is, the learning of Solomon. The Greeks were wont to give the name of wisdom to the knowledge of divine and human things, of nature and religion. This was the wisdom which the Egyptians boasted of, Acts vii. 22. and the Grecian philosophers professed. spirit, &c] This is a comparison that is See the note on Matt. x. 1. v. 43. When an unclean explained in the 45th verse. Through dry places.] i. e. the devils were wont to reside. LXX. In deserts, wherein, as the Jews fancied, v. 45. Seven other spirits.] i. e. Many, John v. i. 1 Sam. ii. 5. It shall happen.] The Jews had often been severely punished by God, they as often repented, and God forgave them. But at last they provoked him to destroy them, by obstinately rejecting the Gospel, and crucifying Jesus Christ. Then it was, that instead of one devil wherewith they had been till that time tormented, they were for ever tormented by an infinite number of evil spirits. Compare Heb. vi. 4, 5, 6. 2 Pet. ii. 20, 21, 22. 46 AS JESUS was yet discoursing to the people, his mother and his brothers stood without, and wanted to speak with him. 47 Upon which, one said to him, Your mother and brothers are without, and desire to speak with you. 48 But JESUS replied to him that spake to him; Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? 40 And pointing with his hand towards his disciples, Behold, says he, my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever shall do the will of my Father, who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. CHAPTER XIII. Parable of the sower, 1-9. Why Christ spake in parables, 10-15. Explication of that of the sower. Advantage of the disciples, 16-23. Parable of the tares, 24—30. Of the mustard seed. Of the leavened, 31-35. That of the tares explained, 36–43. The hidden treasure. The pearl of great price. The net, 44-50. The scribe well qualified, 51 -52. Christ despised in his own country. 53–58. 1 THE same day JESUS being gone out of the house, ver. 46. Mark iii. 31. Luke viii. 19. v. 1. Mark iv. 1. Luke viii. 4. v. 50. This is an excellent most righteous person is He takes upon him the Deut. xxxiii. 9. What V. 46. His brothers.] See Matt. xiii. 55. Whoever shall do the will, &c.] saying, whereby our Saviour declares that the the nearest and dearest to him in the world. beautiful character which is given to Levi. constitutes the children of God, is what makes the kindred and brethren of the Son of God. Compare Luke xi. 27, 28. and Matt. v. 9. 45. ver. 1. The same day.] This is the plain and literal meaning of the original, and it may be understood of the day when the mother and sat by the sea side. 2 And there came about him so great a multitude of people that he was forced to go into a bark, where he seated himself, whilst all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, and discoursed to them thus: 4 A sower went out to sow; and as he was sowing, part of the seed falling upon the beaten path, the birds came and eat it up. 5 Another part fell upon rocky ground, where it had not much earth, so that it quickly sprung up, because the soil had no depth. 6 This was the reason that upon the sun's appearing it was scorched, and as it had no root, withered away. 7 Another part fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and killed it, 8 But lastly, another part falling on good ground, bare fruit, one grain yielding ver. 8. Gen. xxvi. 12. relations of Jesus Christ came to him. It must notwithstanding be observed, that this expression is not always to be taken literally, but may only signify at that time, or one of those days, as St. Luke words it, v. 17. v. 2. He was forced to go into a bark.] To prevent being thronged by the people, and that he might be the better heard. Stood.] The Greek word eiσtŷket, which properly signifies stood up, signifies here only stood, or was. See the note on chap. vi. 5. v. 3. Parables.] The Greek word waрaßoλn, or parable, signifies a comparison. Here it is taken for the figurative and enigmatical manner in which Jesus Christ delivered his instructions to the people, lest he should be understood by some, (See v. 13, 14.) and might excite the curiosity and attention of others. Thus Ezekiel's riddle is a parable, Ezek. xvii. 2. See likewise Ezek. xx. 49. according to the Seventy. It is in our versions, chap. xxi. 5. The LXX. have given the same name to some common proverbial sayings, 2 Chron. vii. 20. Ps. Ixix. 11. v. 4. A sower.] Gr. Behold a sower went forth to sow. The word behold hath no particular emphasis, but is only a form the Hebrews have of beginning their narrations. v. 6. This was the reason.] This is the meaning of the Greek particle de in this place. Upon the sun's appearing.] Gr. Being up. v. 8. One grain yielding, &c.] Which is the most plentiful crop. See Gen. xxvi. 12. |