4 When a great multitude came together, and people from every city were coming to him, he spoke by a parable.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
See the parable of the sower explained in the notes at Matthew. 13:1-23.
(1) And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
(1) The same gospel is sown everywhere, but does not everywhere yield the same fruit, and this is only due to the fault of men themselves.
And when much people were gathered together,.... To Jesus, as he was by the sea side, the sea of Galilee, or Tiberias:
and were come to him out of every city; of Galilee, to hear him preach, and see miracles:
he spake by a parable; the following things.
There are many very needful and excellent rules and cautions for hearing the word, in the parable of the sower, and the application of it. Happy are we, and for ever indebted to free grace, if the same thing that is a parable to others, with which they are only amused, is a plain truth to us, by which we are taught and governed. We ought to take heed of the things that will hinder our profiting by the word we hear; to take heed lest we hear carelessly and slightly, lest we entertain prejudices against the word we hear; and to take heed to our spirits after we have heard the word, lest we lose what we have gained. The gifts we have, will be continued to us or not, as we use them for the glory of God, and the good of our brethren. Nor is it enough not to hold the truth in unrighteousness; we should desire to hold forth the word of life, and to shine, giving light to all around. Great encouragement is given to those who prove themselves faithful hearers of the word, by being doers of the work. Christ owns them as his relations.
A sower went forth to sow. See notes on Matthew. 13:3-23; Mark 4:1.
*More commentary available at chapter level.