13:21 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him,
so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole
multitude stood on the shore.
(1) Christ shows in putting forth this parable of the sower,
that the seed of life which is sown in the world does not
do as well in one as in another, and the reason for this is
that men for the most part, either do not receive it, or
do not permit it to ripen.
13:112 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given
unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,
but to them it is not given.
(2) The gift of understanding and faith is given only to the
elect, and all the rest are blinded through the just
judgment of God.
13:163 But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your
ears, for they hear.
(3) The condition of the Church under and since Christ, is
better than it was in the time of the fathers under the
law.
13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and
understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and
catcheth away that which was sown in his a heart. This
is he which received seed by the way side.
(a) Though there is mention made of the heart, yet this
sowing is referred to as hearing without understanding.
For whether the seed is received in the heart or not,
yet he that sows, sows to the heart.
13:244 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The
kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good
seed in his field:
(4) Christ shows in another parable of the evil seed mixed with
the good, that the Church will never be free and rid of
offences, both in doctrine and manners, until the day
appointed for the restoring of all things comes, and
therefore the faithful have to arm themselves with patience
and steadfastness.
13:315 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The
kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed,
which a man took, and sowed in his field:
(5) God begins his kingdom with very small beginnings so that
by its growing (even though men neither hope nor expect it
to) his mighty power and working may be displayed all the
more.
13:376 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the
good seed is the Son of man;
(6) He expounds the first parable of the good and evil seed.
13:447 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid
in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth,
and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath,
and buyeth that field.
(7) Few men understand how great the riches of the kingdom of
heaven are, and that no man can be a partaker of them but
he that redeems them with the loss of all his goods.
13:478 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that
was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
(8) There are many in the Church who nevertheless are not of
the Church, and therefore at length will be cast out: but
the full and perfect cleansing of them is deferred to the
last day.
13:519 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these
things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
(9) They ought to be diligent, who have to be wise not only for
themselves, but who have to dispense the wisdom of God to
others.
13:5410 And when he was come into his own country, he taught
them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were
astonished, and said, Whence hath this [man] this wisdom,
and [these] mighty works?
(10) Men not only sin because of ignorance, but also knowingly
and willingly they lay stumbling blocks in their own ways,
that when God calls them, they may not obey, and so most
plainly destroy and cast away themselves.
