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Selected Verse: Matthew 13:24 - Douay Rheims

Verse	Translation	Text
Mt 13:24	Douay Rheims	Another parable he proposed to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seeds in his field.
	King James	Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field--Happily for us, these exquisite parables are, with like charming simplicity and clearness, expounded to us by the Great Preacher Himself. Accordingly, we pass to: Mat 13:36-38. See on Mat 13:36; Mat 13:38

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field--Happily for us, these exquisite parables are, with like charming simplicity and clearness, expounded to us by the Great Preacher Himself. Accordingly, we pass to: Mat 13:36-38. See on Mat 13:36; Mat 13:38

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The kingdom of heaven is likened ... - That is, the "gospel resembles." The kingdom of heaven (see the notes at Mat 3:2) means here the effect of the gospel by its being preached. The meaning of this parable is plain. The field represents the "world," in which the gospel is preached. The "good seed," the truths preached by Christ and his apostles. Mat 13:25 While men slept, his enemy came ... - That is, "in the night," when it could be done without being seen, an enemy came and scattered bad seed on the new-plowed field, perhaps before the good seed had been harrowed in. Satan thus sows false doctrine in darkness. In the very place where the truth is preached, and while the hearts of people are open to receive it, by false but plausible teachers he takes care to inculcate false sentiments. Often it is one of his arts, in a revival of religion, to spread secretly dangerous notions of piety. Multitudes are persuaded that they are Christians who are deceived. They are awakened, convicted, and alarmed. They take this for conversion. Or they find their burden gone; they fancy that they hear a voice; or a text of Scripture is "brought" to them, saying that their sins are forgiven; or they see Christ hanging on the cross in a vision; or they dream that their sins are pardoned, and they suppose they are Christians. But they are deceived. None of these things are any conclusive evidence of piety. All these may exist, and still there be no true love to God or Christ, and no real hatred of sin and change of heart. An enemy may do it to deceive them, and to bring dishonor on religion. Sowed tares - By "tares" is probably meant a degenerate kind of wheat, or the darnel-grass growing in Palestine. In its growth and form it has a strong resemblance to genuine wheat; but it either produces no grain, or that of a very inferior and hurtful kind. Probably it comes near to what we mean by "chess." It was extremely difficult to separate it from the genuine wheat, on account of its similarity while growing. "The tare abounds all over the East, and is a great nuisance to the farmer. It resembles the American "cheat (chess)," but the "head" does not droop like cheat, nor does it branch out like oats. The grain, also, is smaller, and is arranged along the upper part of the stalk, which stands perfectly erect. The "taste" is bitter, and when eaten separately, or even when diffused in ordinary bread, it causes dizziness, and often acts as a violent emetic. Barn-door fowls also become dizzy from eating it. In short, it is a strong soporific poison, and must be carefully winnowed, and picked out of the wheat grain by grain, before grinding, or the flour is not healthy. Even the farmers, who in this country generally "weed" their fields, do not attempt to separate the one from the other. They would not only mistake good grain for them, but very commonly the roots of the two are so intertwined that it is impossible to separate them without plucking up both. Both, therefore, must be left to "grow together" until the time of harvest." - (Thomson) "The Land and the Book," vol. ii. pp. 111, 112. Thus, "tares" aptly represented hypocrites in the church. Strongly resembling Christians in their experience, and, in some respects, their lives it is impossible to distinguish them from genuine Christians, nor can they be separated until it is done by the Great Searcher of hearts at the day of judgment. An enemy the devil hath done it. And nowhere has he shown profounder cunning, or done more to adulterate the purity of the gospel. And went his way - There is something very expressive in this. He knew the soil; he knew how the seed would take root and grow. He had only to sow the seed and let it alone. So Satan knows the soil in which he sows his doctrine. He knows that in the human heart it will take deep and rapid root. It needs but little culture. Grace needs constant attendance and care. Error, and sin, and hypocrisy are the native products of the human heart, and, when left alone, start up with deadly luxuriancy. Mat 13:26 Then appeared the tares also - That is, then the tares were "first discovered." They had grown with the wheat, but were so much like it as not to be noticed until the wheat began to ripen. So true piety and false hopes are not known by professions, by "blades," and leaves, and flowers, but by the fruit. Mat 13:29 Ye root up also the wheat - They so much resembled the true wheat that even then it would be difficult to separate them. By gathering them, they would tread down the wheat, loosen and disturb the earth, and greatly injure the crop. In the harvest it could be done without injury. Mat 13:30 Let both grow together - They would not spoil the true wheat, and in time of harvest it would be easy to separate them. Our Saviour teaches us here: 1. That hypocrites and deceived persons must be expected in the church. 2. That this is the work of the enemy of man. They are not the work of Christianity any more than traitors are of patriotism, or counterfeiters are of the proper effect of legislating about money. They belong to the world, and hypocrisy is only one form of sin. The Christian religion never "made" a hypocrite, nor is there a hypocrite on the earth whose principles and practice it does not condemn. 3. That all hope of removing them entirely would be vain. 4. That an "attempt" to remove them altogether would injure real Christianity, by causing excitements, discord, and hard feelings even among Christians. 5. That Christ will himself separate them at the proper time. There is no doubt that it is the duty of the church to keep itself pure, and to cut off gross and manifest offenders, Co1 5:4-5; but the Saviour refers here to those who may be "suspected" of hypocrisy, but against whom it cannot be proved; to those who so successfully imitate Christians as to make it difficult or impossible for man to distinguish them.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

The kingdom of heaven is likened ... - That is, the "gospel resembles." The kingdom of heaven (see the notes at Mat 3:2) means here the effect of the gospel by its being preached. The meaning of this parable is plain. The field represents the "world," in which the gospel is preached. The "good seed," the truths preached by Christ and his apostles.

Mat 13:25

While men slept, his enemy came ... - That is, "in the night," when it could be done without being seen, an enemy came and scattered bad seed on the new-plowed field, perhaps before the good seed had been harrowed in.

Satan thus sows false doctrine in darkness. In the very place where the truth is preached, and while the hearts of people are open to receive it, by false but plausible teachers he takes care to inculcate false sentiments. Often it is one of his arts, in a revival of religion, to spread secretly dangerous notions of piety. Multitudes are persuaded that they are Christians who are deceived. They are awakened, convicted, and alarmed. They take this for conversion. Or they find their burden gone; they fancy that they hear a voice; or a text of Scripture is "brought" to them, saying that their sins are forgiven; or they see Christ hanging on the cross in a vision; or they dream that their sins are pardoned, and they suppose they are Christians. But they are deceived. None of these things are any conclusive evidence of piety. All these may exist, and still there be no true love to God or Christ, and no real hatred of sin and change of heart. An enemy may do it to deceive them, and to bring dishonor on religion.

Sowed tares - By "tares" is probably meant a degenerate kind of wheat, or the darnel-grass growing in Palestine. In its growth and form it has a strong resemblance to genuine wheat; but it either produces no grain, or that of a very inferior and hurtful kind. Probably it comes near to what we mean by "chess." It was extremely difficult to separate it from the genuine wheat, on account of its similarity while growing.

"The tare abounds all over the East, and is a great nuisance to the farmer. It resembles the American "cheat (chess)," but the "head" does not droop like cheat, nor does it branch out like oats. The grain, also, is smaller, and is arranged along the upper part of the stalk, which stands perfectly erect. The "taste" is bitter, and when eaten separately, or even when diffused in ordinary bread, it causes dizziness, and often acts as a violent emetic. Barn-door fowls also become dizzy from eating it. In short, it is a strong soporific poison, and must be carefully winnowed, and picked out of the wheat grain by grain, before grinding, or the flour is not healthy. Even the farmers, who in this country generally "weed" their fields, do not attempt to separate the one from the other. They would not only mistake good grain for them, but very commonly the roots of the two are so intertwined that it is impossible to separate them without plucking up both. Both, therefore, must be left to "grow together" until the time of harvest." - (Thomson) "The Land and the Book," vol. ii. pp. 111, 112. Thus, "tares" aptly represented hypocrites in the church. Strongly resembling Christians in their experience, and, in some respects, their lives it is impossible to distinguish them from genuine Christians, nor can they be separated until it is done by the Great Searcher of hearts at the day of judgment. An enemy the devil hath done it. And nowhere has he shown profounder cunning, or done more to adulterate the purity of the gospel.

And went his way - There is something very expressive in this. He knew the soil; he knew how the seed would take root and grow. He had only to sow the seed and let it alone. So Satan knows the soil in which he sows his doctrine. He knows that in the human heart it will take deep and rapid root. It needs but little culture. Grace needs constant attendance and care. Error, and sin, and hypocrisy are the native products of the human heart, and, when left alone, start up with deadly luxuriancy.

Mat 13:26

Then appeared the tares also - That is, then the tares were "first discovered." They had grown with the wheat, but were so much like it as not to be noticed until the wheat began to ripen.

So true piety and false hopes are not known by professions, by "blades," and leaves, and flowers, but by the fruit.

Mat 13:29

Ye root up also the wheat - They so much resembled the true wheat that even then it would be difficult to separate them.

By gathering them, they would tread down the wheat, loosen and disturb the earth, and greatly injure the crop. In the harvest it could be done without injury.

Mat 13:30

Let both grow together - They would not spoil the true wheat, and in time of harvest it would be easy to separate them.

Our Saviour teaches us here:

1. That hypocrites and deceived persons must be expected in the church.

2. That this is the work of the enemy of man. They are not the work of Christianity any more than traitors are of patriotism, or counterfeiters are of the proper effect of legislating about money. They belong to the world, and hypocrisy is only one form of sin. The Christian religion never "made" a hypocrite, nor is there a hypocrite on the earth whose principles and practice it does not condemn.

3. That all hope of removing them entirely would be vain.

4. That an "attempt" to remove them altogether would injure real Christianity, by causing excitements, discord, and hard feelings even among Christians.

5. That Christ will himself separate them at the proper time. There is no doubt that it is the duty of the church to keep itself pure, and to cut off gross and manifest offenders, Co1 5:4-5; but the Saviour refers here to those who may be "suspected" of hypocrisy, but against whom it cannot be proved; to those who so successfully imitate Christians as to make it difficult or impossible for man to distinguish them.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
parable This parable (Mat 13:24-30) is also interpreted by our Lord (Mat 13:36-43). Here the "good seed" is not the "word," as in the first parable (Mat 13:19); (Mat 13:23) but rather that which the word has produced. (Pe1 1:23); namely: the children of the kingdom. These are, providentially (Mat 13:37) "sown," that is, scattered, here and there in the "field" of the "world" (Mat 13:38). The "world" here is both geographical and ethnic -- the earth-world, and also the world of men. The wheat of God at once becomes the scene of Satan's activity. Where children of the kingdom are gathered, there "among the wheat" (Mat 13:25); (Mat 13:38); (Mat 13:39). Satan "sows" "children of the wicked one," who profess to be children of the kingdom, and in outward ways are so like the true children that only the angels may, in the end, be trusted to separate them (Mat 13:28-30); (Mat 13:40-43). So great is Satan's power of deception that the tares often really suppose themselves to be children of the kingdom (Mat 7:21-23). Many other parables and exhortations have this mingled condition in view (for example); (Mat 22:11-14); (Mat 25:1-13); (Mat 25:14-30); (Luk 18:10-14); (Heb 6:4-9). Indeed, it characterizes Matthew from Chapter 13 to the end. The parable of the wheat and tares is not a description of the world, but of that which professes to be the kingdom. Mere unbelievers are never the children of the devil, but only religious unbelievers are so called. Compare (Mat 13:38); (Joh 8:38-44); (Mat 23:15). The kingdom (See Scofield) - (Mat 3:2).

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Put he forth (παρέθηκεν) But this would be rather the translation of προβάλλω, from which πρόβλημα, a problem, is derived, while the word here used means rather to set before or offer. Often used of meals, to serve up. Hence, better, Rev., set he before them. See on Luk 9:16.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
He proposed another parable - in which he farther explains the case of unfruitful hearers. The kingdom of heaven (as has been observed before) sometimes signifies eternal glory: sometimes the way to it, inward religion; sometimes, 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.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The kingdom of heaven - God's method of managing the affairs of the world, and the concerns of his Church. Is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field - In general, the world may be termed the field of God; and in particular, those who profess to believe in God through Christ are his field or farm; among whom God sows nothing but the pure unadulterated word of his truth.

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³⁸ And the field, is the world. And the good seed are the children of the kingdom. And the cockle, are the children of the wicked one.

³⁶ Then having sent away the multitudes, he came into the house, and his disciples came to him, saying: Expound to us the parable of the cockle of the field.

⁴ In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus;
⁵ To deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

³⁰ Suffer both to grow until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather up first the cockle, and bind it into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather ye into my barn.

²⁹ And he said: No, lest perhaps gathering up the cockle, you root up the wheat also together with it.

²⁶ And when the blade was sprung up, and had brought forth fruit, then appeared also the cockle.

²⁵ But while men were asleep, his enemy came and oversowed cockle among the wheat and went his way.

² And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

¹⁵ Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you go round about the sea and the land to make one proselyte; and when he is made, you make him the child of hell twofold more than yourselves.

³⁸ I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do the things that you have seen with your father.
³⁹ They answered, and said to him: Abraham is our father. Jesus saith to them: If you be the children of Abraham, do the works of Abraham.
⁴⁰ But now you seek to kill me, a man who have spoken the truth to you, which I have heard of God. This Abraham did not.
⁴¹ You do the works of your father. They said therefore to him: We are not born of fornication: we have one Father, even God.
⁴² Jesus therefore said to them: If God were your Father, you would indeed love me. For from God I proceeded, and came; for I came not of myself, but he sent me:
⁴³ Why do you not know my speech? Because you cannot hear my word.
⁴⁴ You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and he stood not in the truth; because truth is not in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.

³⁸ And the field, is the world. And the good seed are the children of the kingdom. And the cockle, are the children of the wicked one.

⁴ For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, have tasted also the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
⁵ Have moreover tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
⁶ And are fallen away: to be renewed again to penance, crucifying again to themselves the Son of God, and making him a mockery.
⁷ For the earth that drinketh in the rain which cometh often upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is tilled, receiveth blessing from God.
⁸ But that which bringeth forth thorns and briers, is reprobate, and very near unto a curse, whose end is to be burnt.
⁹ But, my dearly beloved, we trust better things of you, and nearer to salvation; though we speak thus.

¹⁰ Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
¹¹ The Pharisee standing, prayed thus with himself: O God, I give thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, as also is this publican.
¹² I fast twice in a week: I give tithes of all that I possess.
¹³ And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes towards heaven; but struck his breast, saying: O god, be merciful to me a sinner.
¹⁴ I say to you, this man went down into his house justified rather that the other: because every one that exalteth himself, shall be humbled: and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.

¹⁴ For even as a man going into a far country, called his servants, and delivered to them his goods;
¹⁵ And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to every one according to his proper ability: and immediately he took his journey.
¹⁶ And he that had received the five talents, went his way, and traded with the same, and gained other five.
¹⁷ And in like manner he that had received the two, gained other two.
¹⁸ But he that had received the one, going his way digged into the earth, and hid his lord's money.
¹⁹ But after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them.
²⁰ And he that had received the five talents coming, brought other five talents, saying: Lord, thou didst deliver to me five talents, behold I have gained other five over and above.
²¹ His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
²² And he also that had received the two talents came and said: Lord, thou deliveredst two talents to me: behold I have gained other two.
²³ His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant: because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
²⁴ But he that had received the one talent, came and said: Lord, I know that thou art a hard man; thou reapest where thou hast not sown, and gatherest where thou hast not strewed.
²⁵ And being afraid I went and hid thy talent in the earth: behold here thou hast that which is thine.
²⁶ And his lord answering, said to him: Wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sow not, and gather where I have not strewed:
²⁷ Thou oughtest therefore to have committed my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received my own with usury.
²⁸ Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him that hath ten talents.
²⁹ For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: but from him that hath not, that also which he seemeth to have shall be taken away.
³⁰ And the unprofitable servant cast ye out into the exterior darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

¹ THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride.
² And five of them were foolish, and five wise.
³ But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them:
⁴ But the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps.
⁵ And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept.
⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him.
⁷ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
⁸ And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.
⁹ The wise answered, saying: Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you, go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
¹⁰ Now whilst they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.
¹¹ But at last come also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us.
¹² But he answering said: Amen I say to you, I know you not.
¹³ Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour.

¹¹ And the king went in to see the guests: and he saw there a man who had not on a wedding garment.
¹² And he saith to him: Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? But he was silent.
¹³ Then the king said to the waiters: Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
¹⁴ For many are called, but few are chosen.

²¹ Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.
²² Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name?
²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.

⁴⁰ Even as cockle therefore is gathered up, and burnt with fire: so shall it be at the end of the world.
⁴¹ The Son of man shall send his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all scandals, and them that work iniquity.
⁴² And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
⁴³ Then shall the just shine as the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

²⁸ And he said to them: An enemy hath done this. And the servants said to him: Wilt thou that we go and gather it up?
²⁹ And he said: No, lest perhaps gathering up the cockle, you root up the wheat also together with it.
³⁰ Suffer both to grow until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather up first the cockle, and bind it into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather ye into my barn.

³⁹ And the enemy that sowed them, is the devil. But the harvest is the end of the world. And the reapers are the angels.

³⁸ And the field, is the world. And the good seed are the children of the kingdom. And the cockle, are the children of the wicked one.

²⁵ But while men were asleep, his enemy came and oversowed cockle among the wheat and went his way.

³⁸ And the field, is the world. And the good seed are the children of the kingdom. And the cockle, are the children of the wicked one.

³⁷ Who made answer and said to them: He that soweth the good seed, is the Son of man.

²³ Being born again not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, by the word of God who liveth and remaineth for ever.

²³ But he that received the seed upon good ground, is he that heareth the word, and understandeth, and beareth fruit, and yieldeth the one an hundredfold, and another sixty, and another thirty.

¹⁹ When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, there cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart: this is he that received the seed by the way side.

³⁶ Then having sent away the multitudes, he came into the house, and his disciples came to him, saying: Expound to us the parable of the cockle of the field.
³⁷ Who made answer and said to them: He that soweth the good seed, is the Son of man.
³⁸ And the field, is the world. And the good seed are the children of the kingdom. And the cockle, are the children of the wicked one.
³⁹ And the enemy that sowed them, is the devil. But the harvest is the end of the world. And the reapers are the angels.
⁴⁰ Even as cockle therefore is gathered up, and burnt with fire: so shall it be at the end of the world.
⁴¹ The Son of man shall send his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all scandals, and them that work iniquity.
⁴² And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
⁴³ Then shall the just shine as the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

²⁴ Another parable he proposed to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seeds in his field.
²⁵ But while men were asleep, his enemy came and oversowed cockle among the wheat and went his way.
²⁶ And when the blade was sprung up, and had brought forth fruit, then appeared also the cockle.
²⁷ And the servants of the goodman of the house coming said to him: Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it cockle?
²⁸ And he said to them: An enemy hath done this. And the servants said to him: Wilt thou that we go and gather it up?
²⁹ And he said: No, lest perhaps gathering up the cockle, you root up the wheat also together with it.
³⁰ Suffer both to grow until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather up first the cockle, and bind it into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather ye into my barn.

¹⁶ And taking the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed them; and he broke, and distributed to his disciples, to set before the multitude.