The parables (in which he speaketh to the Jews because they were reprobate) he expoundeth to his Disciples, showing that in his sowing, three parts of four shall perish, through the fault of the hearers. (21) And that his servants must confess their faith, (24) and use their gifts (contrary to those stony and thorny hearers.) And that his Church (notwithstanding the loosing of those three parts of the seed) shall be brought by his providence to the harvest, that is, to the end of the world: (30) growing over all in time, though in the beginning it be as the little mustard seed, (35) and though such tempests of persecution in the sea of this world do rise against it.
AND again he began to teach at the seaside; and a great multitude was gathered together unto him, so that he went up into a boat, and sat in the sea, and all the multitude about the sea was upon the land. 2And he taught them in parables many things, and said to them in his doctrine: 3Hear ye; Behold, the sower went forth to sow. 4And while he soweth, some fell by the wayside, and the fowls of the air came, and did eat it. 5And othersome fell upon rocky places where it had not much earth: and it shot up immediately, because it had not deepness of earth: 6and when the sun was risen, it parched, and because it had not root, it withered. 7And some fell among thorns: and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded not fruit. 8And some fell upon good ground; and it yielded fruit that grew up and increased, and it brought forth, one thirty, one sixty, and one a hundred.
9And he said: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10And when he was alone, the Twelve that were with him, asked him the parable. 11And he said to them: To you it is given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God; but to [a] them that are without, all things are done in parables: 12that * seeing they may see, and not see; and hearing they may hear, and not understand: • lest at any time they should be converted and their sins be forgiven them. 13And he saith to them: Do you not know this parable? And how shall you know all parables? 14He that soweth: soweth the Word. 15And they by the wayside, are these: where the Word is sown, and when they shall have heard, immediately cometh Satan, and taketh away the Word that was sown in their hearts. 16And they likewise that are sown upon the rocky places, are these: who when they hear the Word, immediately with joy receive it; 17And they have not root in themselves, but are temporal: afterward when tribulation is risen and persecution for the Word, forthwith they are scandalised. 18And other there be that are sown among thorns: these are they that hear the Word, 19and the cares of the World and the deceitfulness of riches, and concupiscences about other things entering in choke the Word, and it is made fruitless. 20And these are they that were sown upon the good ground, which hear the Word and receive it, and yield fruit one thirty, one sixty, and one a hundred.
21And he said to them: * Cometh a candle to be put [b] under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be put upon the candlestick? 22For there is nothing hid, which shall not be made manifest: neither was anything made secret, but that it shall come to light. 23If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
24And he said to them: See what you hear. * In what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again, and more shall be given ′ to you. 25For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, that also which he hath, shall be taken away from him.
26And he said: So is the Kingdom of God, as if a man cast seed into the earth, 27 • and sleep, and rise up night and day, and the seed spring, and grow up while he knoweth not. 28For the earth of itself bringeth forth fruit, first the blade, then the ear, afterward the full corn in the ear. 29And when the fruit hath brought out itself, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because harvest is come.
30 * And he said: To what shall we liken the Kingdom of God? or to what parable shall we compare it? 31As a • mustard seed; which when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that are in the earth: 32And when it is sown, it riseth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and maketh great boughs, so that the • birds of the air may dwell under the shadow thereof.
33And with many such parables he spoke to them the Word, according as they were able to hear: 34and without parable he did not speak unto them; but apart, he explicated all things to his Disciples.
35And he saith to them in that day, when evening was come: * Let us pass over to the other side. 36And dismissing the multitude, they take him so as he was in the boat: and there were other boats with him. 37And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was filled. 38And he was in the hinder part of the boat sleeping upon a pillow; and they raise him, and say to him: Master, doth it not pertain to thee that we perish? 39And rising up he threatened the wind, and said to the sea: Peace, be still. And the wind ceased; and there was made a great calm. 40And he said to them: Why are you fearful? neither yet have you faith? And they feared with great fear: and they said one to an other, who is this (thinkest thou) that both wind and sea obey him?
Footnotes
ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. IV.
↑ 12. Lest they should be converted.) These speeches here and elsewhere, we must not so understand as though he spoke in parables of purpose and to this end, that the hearers might not understand, lest they should be converted; which were as much to say as that he would not have them understand, nor be converted: but we must learn the true sense of this very place in St. Matthew and in the Acts, where our Saviour and St. Paul speak thus: They have heard heavily, and have shut their eyes, lest perhaps they may see, and understand, and be converted, and I heal them. Whereby it is evident, that the speaking in parables was not the cause (for many beside the Apostles heard and understood) but themselves would not hear, and understand, and be converted: and so were the cause of their own wilful and obstinate infidelity. And therefore also he spoke in parables, because they were not worthy to understand, as the other to whom he expounded them.
↑ 27. And sleep.) The Church, and Christ’s doctrine, (sleep we, wake we) increases by the great providence of God. only the Preachers must sow, and plant, and water, and * God will give the increase, nourishing the seed in men’s hearts. And therefore we may not give over, or be impatient and solicitous, if we have not always good success: but doing our duty, commit the rest to God.
↑ 31. Mustard seed.) If the Church and Truth had more and more decayed and been obscured after the Apostles’ time unto ours, as the Heretics hold: then had it been great in the beginning, and small afterward: where this Parable says contrary, that it was a mustard seed first, and afterward a great tree. vide Chrys. to 5 contra Gentiles in vita St. Babylae Mart.
↑ 32. The birds.) Of all Sects or doctrine, Christ’s religion at the beginning was the smallest, and most contemptible; but the success thereof far passed all man’s doctrine: in so much that afterward all the wisest and greatest of the world made their residence and rest therein.
Margin Notes
- annot. 12. God is not author of sin, but man’s own will.
- annot. 31. The Church visibly increasing.
- annot. 32. Christian religion wonderfully spreading.
Margin References
- 1. Mat. 13, 1. Luc. 8, 4.
- 12. Esa. 6, 9.
- 21. Luc. 8, 16.
- 24. Luc. 8, 18.
- 24. ′ to you that hear.
- 30. Mat. 13, 31. Luc. 13, 19.
- 35. Mat. 8, 23. Luc. 8, 22.
- annot. 12. Mat. 13. Act. 28.
- annot. 27. 1. Cor. 3.
