he is divided against himself: how then shall his kingdom be esta27 blished? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your 28 children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But

31 *

if it be by the Spirit of God that I cast out devils, then the kingdom 29 of God is come upon you. How can one enter into the strong one's house, and plunder his goods, unless he first bind the strong 30 one? And then will he plunder his house. He that is not with me, is against me, and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth.Wherefore I say to you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not 32 be forgiven to men. And whosoever speaketh against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor 33 in that to come. Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is 34 known by its fruit. Ye brood of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the 35 mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure 36 bringeth forth evil things. But I say to you, That every idle word

27. By whom do your children-That is, disciples, cast them out-It seems, some of them really did this; although the sons of Sceva could not. Therefore shall they be your judges-Ask them, if Satan will cast out Satan: let even them be judges in this matter. And they shall convict you of obstinacy and partiality, who impute that in me to Beelzebub, which in them you impute to God. Beside, how can I rob him of his subjects, till I have conquered him? The kingdom of God is come upon you-Unawares; before you expected: so the word implies.

29. How can one enter into the strong one's house, unless he first bind the strong one-So Christ coming into the world, which was then eminently the strong one's, Satan's house, first bound him, and then took his spoils.

30. He that is not with me is against me-For there are no neuters in this war. Every one must be either with Christ or against him; either a loyal subject or a rebel. And there are none upon earth, who neither promote nor obstruct his kingdom. For he that does not gather souls to God, scatters them from him.

31. The blasphemy against the Spirit-How much stir has been made about this? How many sermons, yea, volumes, have been written concerning it? And yet there is nothing plainer in all the Bible. It is neither more nor less than the ascribing those miracles to the power of the devil, which Christ wrought by the power of the Holy Ghost.

32. Whosoever speaketh against the Son of man-In any other respects: It shall be forgiven him-Upon his true repentance: But whosoever speaketh thus against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven, neither in this world nor in the world to come-This was a proverbial expression among the Jews, for a thing that would never be done. It here means farther, He shall not escape the punishment of it, either in this world, or in the world to come. The judgment of God shall overtake him, both here and hereafter.

33. Either make the tree good and its fruit good: or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt―That is, you must allow, they are both good, or both bad.For if the fruit is good, so is the tree; if the fruit is evil, so is the tree also. For the tree is known by its fruit-As if he had said, Ye may therefore know me by my fruits. By my converting sinners to God, you may know that God hath

sent me.

34. In another kind likewise, the tree is known by its fruit-Namely, the heart by the conversation.

36. Ye may perhaps think, God does not so much regard your words. But 1 Matt. vii, 16; Luke vi, 43.

* Mark iii, 28; Luke xii, 10.

which men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the 37 day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, or by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

38 *Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, 39 Master, we would see a sign from thee. And he answering said to them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh a sign, and there shall be no sign given it, but the sign of the Prophet Jonah. 40 † For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the

great fish, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights 41 in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise up in the judgment with this generation and shall condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold a greater than Jonah is here.

42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation and shall condemn it; for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth, to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and 43 behold a greater than Solomon is here. § When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seek44 ing rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return to my house whence I came out, and when he is come, he findeth it

say to you That not for blasphemous and profane words only, but for every idle word which men shall speak-For want of seriousness or caution; for every dis. course which is not conducive to the glory of God, they shall give account in the day of judgment.

37. For by thy words (as well as thy tempers and works) thou shalt then be either acquitted or condemned. Your words as well as actions shall be produced in evidence for or against you, to prove whether you was a true believer or not. And according to that evidence you will either be acquitted or condemned in the great day.

38. We would see a sign-Else we will not believe this.

39. An adulterous generation-Whose heart wanders from God, though they profess him to be their husband. Such adulterers are all those who love the world, and all who seek the friendship of it. Seeketh a sign-After all they have had already, which were abundantly sufficient to convince them, had not their hearts been estranged from God, and consequently averse to the truth. The sign of Jonah-Who was herein a type of Christ.

40. Three days and three nights-It was customary with the eastern nations to reckon any part of a natural day of twenty-four hours, for the whole day. Accordingly they used to say a thing was done after three or seven days, if it was done on the third or seventh day, from that which was last mentioned. Instances of this may be seen, 1 Kings xx, 29; and in many other places. And as the Hebrews had no word to express a natural day, they used night and day, or day and night for it. So that to say a thing happened after three days and three nights, was with them the very same, as to say, it happened after three days, or on the third day. See Esther iv, 16; v, 1; Gen. vii, 4, 12; Exod. xxiv, 18; xxxiv, 28. 42. She came from the uttermost parts of the earth-That part of Arabia from which she came was the uttermost part of the earth that way, being bounded by the sea.

43. But how dreadful will be the consequence of their rejecting me? When the unclean spirit goeth out—Not willingly, but being compelled by one that is stronger than he. He walketh-Wanders up and down; through dry places— Barren, dreary, desolate; or places not yet watered with the Gospel: Seeking rest, and findeth none-How can he, while he carries with him his own hell? And is it not the case of his children too? Reader, is it thy case?

44. Whence he came out-He speaks as if he had come out of his own accord : See his pride! He findeth it empty-of God, of Christ, of his Spirit: Swept-from * Matt. xvi, 1; Luke xi, 16, 29. † Jonah ii, 1. +1 Kings x, 1. Ó Luke xi, 24.

45 empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he and taketh with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there, and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it be also to this wicked generation.

46

* While he yet talked to the multitude, behold his mother and his 47 brethren stood without, seeking to speak to him. And one said to him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, seek48 ing to speak to thee. And he answering, said to him that told him, 49 Who is my mother, and who are my brethren? And stretching

forth his hand toward his disciples, he said, Behold my mother and 50 my brethren. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother, XIII. The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea 2 side. And great multitudes were gathered together to him, so

that he went into the vessel and sat, and the multitude stood on 3 the shore. And he spake many things to them in parables, saying, 4 Behold, the sower went forth to sow. And while he sowed, some

seeds fell by the highway side, and the birds came and devoured

love, lowliness, meekness, and all the fruits of the Spirit: And garnished-With levity and security so that there is nothing to keep him out, and much to invite him in.

45. Seven other spirits-That is, a great many; a certain number being put for an uncertain: More wicked than himself—Whence it appears, that there are degrees of wickedness among the devils themselves: They enter in and dwell— For ever in him who is forsaken of God. So shall it be to this wicked generation -Yea, and to apostates in all ages.

46. His brethren-His kinsmen: they were the sons of Mary, the wife of Cleo. pas, or Alpheus, his mother's sister; and came now seeking to take him, as one beside himself, Mark iii, 21.

48. And he answering, said-Our Lord's knowing why they came, sufficiently justifies his seeming disregard of them.

49, 50. See the highest severity, and the highest goodness! Severity to his natural, goodness to his spiritual relations! In a manner disclaiming the former, who opposed the will of his heavenly Father, and owning the latter, who obeyed it.

XIII. 2. He went into the vessel-Which constantly waited upon him, while he was on the sea coast.

3. In parables-The word is here taken in its proper sense, for apt similes or comparisons. This way of speaking, extremely common in the eastern countries, drew and fixed the attention of many, and occasioned the truths delivered to sink the deeper into humble and serious hearers. At the same time, by an awful mixture of justice and mercy, it hid them from the proud and careless.

In this chapter our Lord delivers seven parables; directing the four former (as being of general concern) to all the people; the three latter to his disciples.

Behold the sower-How exquisitely proper is this parable to be an introduction to all the rest! In this our Lord answers a very obvious and a very important question. The same sower, Christ, and the same preachers sent by him, always sow the same seed: why has it not always the same effect? He that hath ears to hear, let him hear!

4. And while he sowed, some seeds fell by the highway side, and the birds came and devoured them-It is observable, that our Lord points out the grand hinder. ances of our bearing fruit, in the same order as they occur. The first danger is, that the birds will devour the seed. If it escape this, there is then another danger, namely, lest it be scorched, and wither away. It is long after this that the thorns spring up and choke the good seed.

A vast majority of those who hear the word of God, receive the seed as by the highway side. Of those who do not lose it by the birds, yet many receive it as

* Mark iii, 31; Luke viii, 19. + Mark iv, 1; Luke viii, 4.

5 them. Others fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth; and they sprung up immediately, because they had not 6 depth of earth. And when the sun was up, they were scorched; 7 and because they had not root they withered away. And some fell

among thorns: and the thorns sprung up and choked them. 8 And others fell on the good ground, and brought forth fruit, some 9 a hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty. He that hath ears to 10 hear, let him hear. And the disciples came and said to him, Why 11 speakest thou to them in parables? He answering, said unto them,

Because to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom 12 of heaven; but to them it is not given. For *whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even what he hath. 13 Therefore I spake to them in parables, because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, who saith, Hearing, ye will hear, but in nowise understand, and seeing ye will see, but in nowise perceive. For the heart of this people is waxed fat, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed: lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and should 16 be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, 17 for they see, and your ears for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see

15

on stony places. Many of them who receive it in a better soil, yet suffer the thorns to grow up, and choke it: so that few even of these endure to the end, and bear fruit unto perfection: yet in all these cases, it is not the will of God that hinders, but their own voluntary perverseness.

8. Good ground-Soft, not like that by the highway side; deep, not like the stony ground; purged, not full of thorns.

11. To you, who have, it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven-The deep things which flesh and blood cannot reveal, pertaining to the inward, present kingdom of heaven. But to them who have not, it is not givenTherefore speak I in parables, that ye may understand, while they do not understand.

12. Whosoever hath-That is, improves what he hath, uses the grace given according to the design of the giver; to him shall be given-More and more, in proportion to that improvement. But whosoever hath not-Improves it not, from him shall be taken even what he hath-Here is the grand rule of God's dealing with the children of men: a rule fixed as the pillars of heaven. This is the key to all his providential dispensations; as will appear to men and angels in that day.

13. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing, they see not-In pursuance of this general rule, I do not give more knowledge to this people, because they use not that which they have already: having all the means of seeing, hearing, and understanding, they use none of them: they do not effectually see, or hear, or understand any thing.

14. Hearing ye will hear, but in nowise understand That is, Ye will surely hear. All possible means will be given you: yet they will profit you nothing; because your heart is sensual, stupid, and insensible; your spiritual senses are shut up; yea, you have closed your eyes against the light; as being unwilling to understand the things of God, and afraid, not desirous that he should heal you. 16. But blessed are your eyes-For you both see and understand. You know how to prize the light which is given you.

* Chap. xxv, 29; Mark iv, 25; Luke viii, 18; xix, 26. +Isaiah vi, 9; John xii, 40; Acts xxviii, 26. + Luke x, 23.

the things which ye see, and have not seen them, and to hear the 18 things which ye hear, and have not heard them. Hear ye there19 fore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and considereth it not, the wicked one cometh, and catcheth away what was sown in his heart. This is he who 20 received seed by the highway side. But he who received the seed in stony places, is he that heareth the word and immediately 21 receiveth it with joy. Yet he hath not root in himself, and so

endureth but for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth 22 because of the word, straightway he is offended. He that received the seed among the thorns, is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, 23 and it becometh unfruitful. But he that receiveth seed on the good ground, is he that heareth the word and considereth it: who also beareth fruit and bringeth forth, some a hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty.

24 He proposed to them another parable, saying, The kingdom of 25 heaven is like a man sowing good seed in his field. But while

men slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel amidst the wheat,

19. When any one heareth the word, and considereth it not―The first and most general cause of unfruitfulness. The wicked one cometh-Either inwardly; filling the mind with thoughts of other things; or by his agent. Such are all they that introduce other subjects, when men should be considering what they have heard.

20. The seed sown on stony places, therefore sprang up soon, because it did not sink deep, ver. 5. He receiveth it with joy-Perhaps with transport, with ecstacy: struck with the beauty of truth, and drawn by the preventing grace of God.

21. Yet hath he not root in himself—No deep work of grace: no change in the ground of his heart. Nay, he has no deep conviction; and without this, good desires soon wither away. He is offended-He finds a thousand plausible pretences for leaving so narrow and rugged a way.

22. He that received the seed among the thorns, is he that heareth the word and considereth it-In spite of Satan and his agents: yea, hath root in himself, is deeply convinced, and in a great measure inwardly changed; so that he will not draw back, even when tribulation or persecution ariseth. And yet even in him, together with the good seed, the thorns spring up, ver. 7, (perhaps unperceived at first) till they gradually choke it, destroy all its life and power, and it becometh unfruitful.

Cares are thorns to the poor: wealth to the rich; the desire of other things to. all. The deceitfulness of riches-Deceitful indeed! for they smile, and betray: kiss, and smite into hell. They put out the eyes, harden the heart, steal away all the life of God; fill the soul with pride, anger, love of the world; make men enemies to the whole cross of Christ! And all the while are eagerly desired, and vehemently pursued, even by those who believe there is a God!

23. Some a hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty-That is, in various proportions; some abundantly more than others.

24. He proposed another parable-in which he farther explains the case of unfruitful hearers. The kingdom of heaven (as has been observed before) someimes signifies eternal glory: sometimes the way to it, inward religion; someimes, as here, the Gospel dispensation: the phrase is likewise used for a person or thing relating to any one of those: so in this place it means, Christ preaching the Gospel, who is like a man sowing good seed-The expression, is like, both here and in several other places, only means, that the thing spoken of may be illustrated by the following similitude. Who sowed good seed in his field—God sowed nothing but good in his whole creation. Christ sowed only the good seed of truth in his Church.

25. But while men slept-They ought to have watched: the Lord of the field sleepeth not. His enemy came and sowed darnel—This is very like wheat, and