the tares, he may go his way, they will spring up, and do hurt; whereas, when good seed is sown,
it must be tended, watered, and fenced. The servants complained to their master; Sir, didst thou not
sow good seed in thy field? No doubt he did; whatever is amiss in the church, we are sure it is not
from Christ. Though gross transgressors, and such as openly oppose the gospel, ought to be separated
from the society of the faithful, yet no human skill can make an exact separation. Those who oppose
must not be cut off, but instructed, and that with meekness. And though good and bad are together
in this world, yet at the great day they shall be parted; then the righteous and the wicked shall be
plainly known; here sometimes it is hard to distinguish between them. Let us, knowing the terrors
of the Lord, not do iniquity. At death, believers shall shine forth to themselves; at the great day
they shall shine forth before all the world. They shall shine by reflection, with light borrowed from
the Fountain of light. Their sanctification will be made perfect, and their justification published.
May we be found of that happy number.
Verses 31–35
The scope of the parable of the seed sown, is to show that the beginnings of the gospel would
be small, but its latter end would greatly increase; in this way the work of grace in the heart, the
kingdom of God within us, would be carried on. In the soul where grace truly is, it will grow really;
though perhaps at first not to be discerned, it will at last come to great strength and usefulness. The
preaching of the gospel works like leaven in the hearts of those who receive it. The leaven works
certainly, so does the word, yet gradually. It works silently, and without being seen, Mr 4:26–29,
yet strongly; without noise, for so is the way of the Spirit, but without fail. Thus it was in the world.
The apostles, by preaching the gospel, hid a handful of leaven in the great mass of mankind. It was
made powerful by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts, who works, and none can hinder. Thus it is in the
heart. When the gospel comes into the soul, it works a thorough change; it spreads itself into all
the powers and faculties of the soul, and alters the property even of the members of the body, Ro
6:13. From these parables we are taught to expect a gradual progress; therefore let us inquire, Are
we growing in grace? and in holy principles and habits?
Verses 44–52
Here are four parables. 1. That of the treasure hid in the field. Many slight the gospel, because
they look only upon the surface of the field. But all who search the Scriptures, so as in them to find
Christ and eternal life, Joh 5:39, will discover such treasure in this field as makes it unspeakably
valuable; they make it their own upon any terms. Though nothing can be given as a price for this
salvation, yet much must be given up for the sake of it. 2. All the children of men are busy; one
would be rich, another would be honourable, another would be learned; but most are deceived, and
take up with counterfeits for pearls. Jesus Christ is a Pearl of great price; in having him, we have
enough to make us happy here and for ever. A man may buy gold too dear, but not this Pearl of
great price. When the convinced sinner sees Christ as the gracious Saviour, all things else become
worthless to his thoughts. 3. The world is a vast sea, and men, in their natural state, are like the
fishes. Preaching the gospel is casting a net into this sea, to catch something out of it, for His glory
who has the sovereignty of this sea. Hypocrites and true Christians shall be parted: miserable is the
condition of those that shall then be cast away. 4. A skilful, faithful minister of the gospel, is a