But he that received seed into the good ground is he that
heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth
forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matt. 13:23)
None are compared by Christ to a good and fertile soil,
but those in whom the word of God not only strikes its roots deep and solid,
but overcomes every obstacle that would prevent it from yielding fruit.
Is it objected that it is impossible to find any one who is
pure and free from thorns? It is easy to reply, that Christ does not now speak
of the perfection of faith, but only points out those in whom the word of God
yields fruit. Though the produce may not be great, yet every one who does not
fall off from the sincere worship of God is reckoned a good and fertile soil.
We ought to labor, no doubt, to pull out the thorns; but
as our utmost exertion will never succeed so well, but that there will always
be some remaining behind, let each of us endeavor, at least, to deaden them,
that they may not hinder the fruit of the word. This statement is confirmed by
what immediately follows, when Christ informs us that all do not yield fruit in
an equal degree.
Some a hundred-fold, and some sixty-fold, and some
thirty-fold. Though the fertility of that soil, which yields a thirty-fold
produce, is small, compared with that which yields a hundred-fold, yet
we perceive that our Lord classes together all kinds of soil which do not
entirely disappoint the labors and expectation of the husbandman. Hence too we
learn, that we have no right to despise those who occupy a lower degree of
excellence; for the master of the house himself, though he gives to one the
preference above another on account of more abundant produce, yet bestows the general
designation, good, even on inferior soils. (Commentaries)
No comments:
Post a Comment