ACC ~ Matthew 13 v3

MANY THINGS IN PARABLES

CHRYSOSTOM: “He told them many things in parables.” He had not done this on the mount. [1] Here he wove into his discourse many parables. For on the mount were multitudes only, and a simple people. But here are also scribes and Pharisees. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 44.2. [2]

[1] Cf. Mt 5:1 (the Sermon on the Mount).

[2] PG 57:467; NPNF 1 10:281.

DIFFERENT PARABLES FOR DIFFERENT HEARERS

JEROME: The crowd is not of a single mentality, for each person has a different frame of mind. He therefore speaks to them in many parables so they may receive different teachings depending on their frame of mind. Further, it should be noted that he did not speak everything to them in parables, but many things. For if he spoke everything to them in parables, the people would go away without gaining anything. Jesus mixes what is clear with what is obscure, so that through the things they understand they may be drawn toward the knowledge of the things they do not understand. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 2.13.3. [1]

[1] CCL 77:101-2.

FLAGGING THE HEARER’S ATTENTION

CHRYSOSTOM: But note carefully what kind of parable he began with. Note the order in which Matthew put them. Which parable does he speak first? That which it was most necessary to speak first, that which makes the hearer more attentive. For because Jesus was going to talk with them in hidden sayings, he dramatically catches the attention of his hearers by his first parable. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 44.2. [1]

[1] PG 57:467; NPNF 1 10:281.

SOWING AMONG CROWDS

JEROME: He was indoors, staying at the house, where he spoke to the disciples about that which is holy. He who sows the word of God then went out of his house that he might sow among the crowds. This means that the sower who sows is the Son of God the Father, sowing the word among the ordinary people. Note too that this is the first parable that was given with an interpretation. Furthermore, whenever the Lord speaks to his disciples and answers their questions indoors, he sows words that give us to understand nothing more or less or other than what he has accurately explained. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 2.13.3. [1]

[1] CCL 77:102.

THE ONE PROPHESIED TO SPEAK PARABLES

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: For this reason Jesus speaks in parables, in order that through them he should show that he is the One who was prophesied. Concerning [him] David said, “I will open my mouth in parables,” [1] and again, “and there will be a man who shall hide his words, and he will be hidden as though carried away by the waves of the sea.” [2] FRAGMENT 164. [3]

[1] Ps 78:2 (77:2 LXX).

[2] Is 32:2.

[3] MKGK 206.

HE WENT OUT

ANONYMOUS: “The sower went forth to sow,” not simply going from place to place but with a deliberate design. He did not go where he had not been before, nor did he abandon the place he had left, because God is everywhere. He did not go beyond his presence because God is everywhere. Rather, he went out because God is present where his righteousness is honored. Where his righteousness is not present, neither is God fully received. Those who are within his righteousness are found inside, and those who are not within his righteousness are found outside. Therefore, as long as God was in heaven where all are righteous, he was inside. Coming forth into the fallen world, however, which was completely outside God’s righteousness, he went outside in order to bring it inside. Therefore, since all nations, disdaining God’s righteousness, were living under the power of the devil, he went forth outside in order to sow righteousness in the world, where it had been absent before on account of their sins. “The sower went out to sow.” It was not sufficient for him to say, “He went out to sow,” but he added, “The sower went out to sow” to point out that he was not a new sower and was not doing this work for the first time. It was just like God to do this. He has always been sowing. Indeed, from the beginning of the human race it was natural for God to sow the seeds of knowledge. He is the One who, through Moses, sowed among the people the seeds of the commandments of the law. He is the One who, speaking through the prophets, sowed not only the remedies of things present but also the knowledge of things future. He went out, so that in a human body and through himself, he might sow his divine commandments. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 31. [1]

[1] PG 56:792.

Mt