Verse For Today

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Mt 13:47 Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered some of every kind;

Mt 13:48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.

Mt 13:49 So it shall be at the end of the world. The angels shall come out and separate the wicked from among the just,

Mt 13:50 and shall cast them into the furnace of fire. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.


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The design and scope of this parable also is to set forth the state of the gospel church, which is like a floor, where chaff is mixed with wheat; a field, where tares are mixed with good corn; a net, where bad fishes are involved with the good.  As the wheat must not be removed out of the floor before the time of winnowing; nor the tares gathered out of the field before the time of reaping; nor the good fishes break through the net to get from the bad before the time of separation; so must not Christians forsake a church's communion, because of the present mixture of good and bad in the church.  For a mixed communion, in the church, and the good Christians communicating with the bad, do neither defile the ordinances of Christ, nor pollute those that sincerely join in them.

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Mt 13:51 Jesus said to them, Have you understood all these things? They said to Him, Yes, Lord.

Mt 13:52 Then He said to them, Therefore every scribe who is instructed to the kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out things new and old out of his treasure.

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Observe here, 1. The title which our Saviour puts upon gospel-ministers; they are household stewards.
 
2. He points out the office of those stewards; and that is, to provide for the household both with plenty and variety.  He must bring forth out of his treasure in plenty; and things new and old for their variety.
 
There are two essential qualifications in a steward, faithfulness and prudence:  he must be honest and faithful, in bringing out of his own treasure, not another's; and he must be prudent, in bringing things new, as well as old; not new truths, but old truths in as new dress: lest the household, by always feeding upon the same dish, do nauseate it, instead of being nourished by it.

[airIam2worship]

Mt 13:53 And it happened when Jesus finished these parables, He departed from there.

Mt 13:54 And when He had come into His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so much so that they were astonished and said, From where does this man have this wisdom and these mighty works?

Mt 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brothers, James and Joses and Simon and Judas,

Mt 13:56 and his sisters, are they not all with us? Then from where does this man have all these things?

Mt 13:57 And they were offended in Him. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house.

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Observe here, 1. Christ's tender and compassionate regard to his own countrymen, the people of Galilee and Nazareth:  he preached to them in their synagogue.
 
2. The effect which his doctrine had upon them:  They were  astonished at it, but not converted by it; they admired, but did not believe.
 
3. The cause of their rejecting Christ's ministry was the meanness of his person, the contemptableness of his outward condition, the poverty of his relations:  is not this the carpenter's son? Mr 6:1; Heb 1:1-13:25; Isa 1:1-66:24 called the carpenter; whence the fathers concluded, that our Saviour during the time of his obscure privacy, wrought at the trade of Joseph his reputed father; and Justin Martyr says he made ploughs and yokes.  Sure we are, our Lord spent no time in idleness, though we are not certain how he employed his time before he entered upon his public minstry.
 
Note, That the poverty and meanness of Christ's condition was that which multitudes stumbled at; and which kept many, yea most, from believing on him.  None but a spiritual eye can discern beauty in an humble Saviour:  Is not this the son of the carpenter?
 
2. That it is no impediment to, or hindrance of, our faith, that we never saw Christ's person in the flesh, nor knew his parentage and education; for here are his own countrymen, who daily saw his person, heard his doctrine, and were witnesses of his holy conversation, yet instead of believing in him they were offended at him.
 
Our Saviour tells them, he doth not wonder that so many of his own countrymen, to whom he had been so familiarly known, did despise his person, and reject his doctrine; a prophet generally has least esteem where he has been brought up; because, perhaps the follies of his childhood, and indecencies of his youth, are remembered and reported to his disparagement.
 
Learn, 1. That there is a real tribute of honour due and payable to every prophet, or faithful minister of Jesus Christ.
 
2. That the ministers of Christ, for the most part, have least honour from their own countrymen, to whom they are best known.
 
3. That although it be so, yet this may not be through their own fault, for Christ was so amongst us.

[airIam2worship]

Mt 13:58 And He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

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This sin not only locks up the heart of a sinner, but also binds up the hands of a Saviour.  Unbelief obstructed Christ's miraculous works when on earth, and it obstructs his gracious works now in heaven.
 
Ah!  cursed unbelief! which shuts up, O sinner, thy heart, and shuts out thy Saviour, and will effectually shut thee out of heaven, and not only procure damnation, but no damnation like it!
 
Christ was unable because they were unwilling; his impotency was occasioned by their infidelity; he did not, because he would not; and that he would not, proceeded from a defect in their faith, not from any deficiency in Christ's power; their unbelief bound his hands, and hindered the execution of his power.

[airIam2worship]

Mt 14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus

Mt 14:2 and said to his servants, This is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead, and therefore the powerful works are working in him.

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Observe here, 1. How strange it was the Herod should not hear of the fame of Jesus till now; all the country and adjoining regions had rung of his fame, only Herod's court hears nothing.  Miserable is that greatness which keeps princes from the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  How plain is it from hence that our Saviour came not to court?  He once sent indeed a message to that fox (Herod) whose den he would not approach; teaching us by his example, not to affect, but to avoid, outward pomp and glory.  The courts to thrive in.
 
Observe, 2. The misconstruction of Herod, when he heard of our Saviour's fame:  this, says he, is John the Baptist, whom I beheaded. His conscience told him he had offered an unjust violence to an innocent man; and now he is afraid that he is come again to be revenged on him for his head.  A wicked man needs no worse tormentor than his own mind. O the terrors and tortures of a guilty conscience!  How great are the anxieties of guilt, and the fears of divine displeasure, than which nothing is more stinging and perpetually tormenting.

[airIam2worship]

Mt 14:3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and had bound him, and had put him in prison because of Herodias his brother Philip's wife.

Mt 14:4 For John said to him, It is not lawful for you to have her.

Mt 14:5 And when he desired to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

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Observe here, 1. The person that put the holy baptist to death:  It was Herod, it was Herod the king, it was Herod that invited John to preach at court, and heard him gladly.
 
1. It was Herod Antipas, son to that Herod, who sought Christ's life, chap. 11. cruelty runs in the blood, Herod the murderer of John, who was the forerunner of Christ, descended from that Herod who would have murdered Christ himself.
 
2. It was Herod the king.  Sad! that princes who should always be nursing fathers to, should at any time be the bloody butchers of, the prophets of God.
 
3. It was Herod that heard John gladly; John took the ear and the heart of Herod, and Herod binds the hands and feet of John.  O how inconstant is a carnal heart to good resolutions; the word has oft-time an awakening influence, where it doth not leave an abiding impression upon the minds of men.
 
Observe, 2. The cause of the baptist's death; it was for telling a king of his crime.  Herod cut off that head whose tongue was so bold as to tell him of his faults.  The persecutions which the prophets of God fall under, is usually for telling great men of their sins: men in power are impatient of reproof, and imagine their authority gives them a license to transgress.
 
Observe, 3. The plain-dealing of the baptist, in reproving Herod for his crime, which, in one act, was adultery, incest, and violence.
 
Adultery, that he took another's wife; incest, that he took his brother's wife; violence, that he took her in spite of her husband.
 
Therefore John does not mince the matter, and say, it is not the crown and sceptre of Herod that could daunt the faithful messenger of God. There ought to meet in God's ministers, both courage and impartiality.

Courage, in fearing no faces; impartiality in sparing no sins.  For none are so great, but they are under the authority and command of the law of God.

[airIam2worship]

Mt 14:6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod.

Mt 14:7 So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she would ask.

Mt 14:8 And she, being instructed before by her mother, said, Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter.

Mt 14:9 And the king was sorry. But for the oath's sake, and those reclining with him, he commanded it to be given.

Mt 14:10 And he sent and beheaded John in the prison.

Mt 14:11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl. And she brought it to her mother.

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Several observables are here to be taken notice of.
 
1. The time of this execrable murder:  it was upon eastern kings to celebrate their birth-days:  Pharaoh's birth-day was kept, Ge 40:20. Herod's here; both with blood; yet these personal stains do not make the practice unlawful.  When we solemnize our birth-day with thankfulness to our Creator and Preserver, for life and being, for protection and preservation to that moment, and commend ourselves to the care of his good providence for the remainder of our days, this is an act of piety and religion.  But Herod's birth-day was kept with revelling and feasting, with music and dancing:  not that dancing which is itself, is a set, regular, harmonious motion of the body, can be unlawful, and more than walking or running:  circumstances may make it sinful.
 
But from this, although disorderly banquet on Herod's birth-day, we learn, that great men's feasts and frolics are too often, a season of much sin.
 
Observe, 2. The instigator and promoter of the Holy Baptist's death, Herodias and her daughter:  that good man falls a sacrifice to the fury and malice, to the pride and scorn, of a lustful woman, for being a rub in the way of her licentious adultery.  Resolute sinners, who are mad upon their lusts, run furiously upon their gainsayers, though they be the prophets of God themselves, and resolve to bear down all opposition they meet with in the gratification of their unlawful desires.
 
Observe, 3. With what reluctance Herod consented to this villainy:  The king was sorry:  wicked men oft-times sin with a troubled and disturbed conscience:  they have a mighty struggle with themselves before they commit their sins:  but at last their lusts get the mastery over their consciences.  So did Herod's here; for:
 
4. Not withstanding his sorrow.  He commands the fact:  He sent and beheaded John in the sorrow.  And a three-fold cord tied him to this performance.
 
1.  The conscience of his oath.  See his hypocrisy:  he made conscience of a rash oath, who made no scruple of real murder.
 
2. Respect to his reputation, Them that sat with him heard his promise, and will be witness of his levity, if he do not perform.  Insisting upon punctilio of honour has hazarded the loss of millions of souls.
 
3.  A loathness to discontent Herodias and her daughter.  O vain and foolish hypocrite, who dreaded the displeasure of a wanton mistress, before the offending of God and conscience!
 
Observe, 5.  These wicked women not only require the Baptist to be beheaded, but that his head be brought in a charger to them.  What a dish is here to be served up at a prince's table on his birth-day!  A dead man's head swimming in blood!  How prodigiously insatiably is cruelty and revenge!  Herodias did not think herself safe till John was dead; she could not think him dead till his head was off; she could not believe his head was off till she had it in her hand.
 
Revenge never thinks it has made sure enough.  O how cruel is a wicked heart, that could take pleasure in a spectacle of so much horror!  How was that holy head tossed by impure and filthy hands!  That true and faithful tongue, those pure eyes, those mortified cheeks are now insultingly handled by an incestuous harlot, and made a scorn to the drunken eyes of Herod's guest.
 
From the whole, learn, 1.  That neither the holiest of prophets, nor the best of men, are more secure from violence, than from natural death.  He that was sanctified in the womb, conceived and born with so much miracle, lived with so much reverence and observation, is now at midnight obscurely murdered in a close prison.
 
Learn, 2.  That it is as true a martyrdom to suffer for duty, as for faith: he dies as tryly a martyr that dies for doing his duty, as he that dies for professing the faith, and bearing witness to the truth.

[airIam2worship]

Mt 14:12 And his disciples came and took up the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

Mt 14:13 When Jesus heard, He departed from there by boat into a deserted place apart. And hearing, the crowds followed Him on foot out of the cities


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The disciples of John hearing that their holy master was thus basely and barbarously murdered, took up his dead body and buried it.
 
Whence we learn, that the faithful servants of God are not ashamed of the suffering of the saints, but will testify their respect unto them both living and dead.
 
Observe farther, our blessed Saviour, upon the notice of John's death, flies unto the desert for the preservation of his own life. Jesus knew that his hour was not yet come, and therefore he keeps out of Herod's way.  It is no cowardice to fly from persecutors, when Christ our captain both practices it himself, and directs us to it, saying,  When they persecute you in one city, flee

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Mt 14:14 And Jesus went out and saw a great crowd, and He was moved with compassion toward them. And He healed their sick.

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Observe here, with what condolency and tender sympathy the compassionate Jesus exercised acts of mercy and compassion towards the miserable and distressed.
 
   He was moved with compassion; that is, touched with an inward sense and feeling of their sorrow;
 
  And he healed their sick. Those that came to Christ for healing, found three advantages of cure, above the power and performance of any earthly physician; to wit, certainty, bounty, and ease.
 
Certainty, in that all comers were infallibly cured; bounty, in that they were freely cured, without charge; and ease, in that they were cured without pain.

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Mt 14:15 And evening coming on, His disciples came to Him, saying, The place is deserted and the time has already gone by. Send the crowd away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.

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Note here, 1.  The disciples pity towards the multitude that had been long attending upon Christ's ministry in the desert; they presuming the people hungry, having fasted all the day, requested our Saviour to dismiss them, that they may procure some bodily refreshment.
 
Learn hence, that it well becomes the ministers of Christ to respect the bodily necessities, as well as to regard the spiritual wants of their people.  As the bodily father must take care of the soul of his child, so must the spiritual Father have respect to the bodily necessities of his children.
 
Observe, 2.  The motion which the disciples make on behalf of the multitude,  Send them away that they may buy victuals.  Here was a strong charity, but a weak faith.  A strong charity in that they desire the people's relief: but a weak faith, in that they suppose that they could not be otherwise relieved, but by sending them away to buy victuals; forgetting that Christ, who had healed the multitude miraculously, could as easily feed them miraculously, if he pleased: all things being equally easy to omnipotency.

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Mt 14:16 But Jesus said to them, They do not need to leave, you give them something to eat.

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Observe here, 1.  Our Saviour's strange answer to the disciples motion:   They need not depart, says Christ.  Need not!  Why? the people must either feed or famish.  Victuals they must have, and this being a desert place, there was none to be had.  Surely then there was need enough.
 
But, 2. Christ's command was more strange than his assertion: Give ye them to eat.  Alas, poor disciples!  They had nothing for themselves to eat, how then should they give the multitude to eat? When Christ requires of us what of ourselves we are unable to perform, it is to shew us our impotency and weakness, and to provoke us to look to him that worketh all our works in us and for us

[airIam2worship]

Mt 14:17 And they said to Him, We have here only five loaves and two fish.

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Note here, what a poor and slender provision the Lord of the whole earth has for his household and family; five loaves, and those barley; two fishes, and they small: teaching us, that these bodies of ours must be fed, but not pampered.  Our belly must not be our master, much less our God.  We read but twice that Christ made any entertainments, and both times his guests were fed with loaves nad fishes, plain fare and homely diet.  The end of food is to sustain nature, we stifle it with gluttonous variety: meat was ordained for the belly, the belly for the body, the body for the soul, and the soul for God.
 
Observe farther, as the quality of the victuals was plain and coarse, so the quantity of it was small and little:  five loaves and two fishes.  Well might the disciples say, What are these among so many?  The eye of sense and reason sees an impossibility of those effects which faith can easily apprehend, and divine power more easily produce.

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Mt 14:18 And He said, Bring them here to Me.

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Observe, 1.  How the master of the feast marshals his guests, he commands them  all to sit down: none of them reply, "sit down, but to what?  Here are the mouths, but where is the meat?  We can soon be set, but whence shall we be served?"  Nothing of this; but they obey and expect.
 
O how easy is it to trust to God, and rely upon Providence, when there is corn in the barn, and bread in the cupboard!  But when our stores are all empty, and nothing before us, then to depend upon an invisible bounty, is a true and noble act of faith.
 
Observe, 2.  The actions performed by our blessed Saviour, He blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples and they to the multitude.
 
1.  He blessed.  Teaching us by his example, in all our wants to look up to heaven for a supply, to wait upon God for his blessing, and not to sit down to our food as a beast to his forage.
 
2.  He brake the loaves.  He could have multiplied them whole, why would he rather do it in the breaking?  Perhaps to teach us, that we are to expect his blessing in the distribution, rather than in the reservation of what he gives us.
 
Scattering is the way to increasing: not grain hoarded up in the granary, but scattered in the furrows of the field, yields increase. Liberality is the way to riches, and penuriousness the road to poverty.
 
3.  Christ gave the bread thus broken to his disciples that they might distribute it to the multitude.  But why did not our Lord distribute it with his own hand, but by the hands of his disciples? Doubtless to win respect to his disciples from the people.
 
The same course doth our Lord take in spiritual distributions.  He that could feed the world by his immediate hand, chooses rather by the hands of his ministers to divide the bread of life to all hearers.

[airIam2worship]

Mt 14:19 And He commanded the crowd to recline on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to Heaven He blessed and broke, and gave the loaves to His disciples. And the disciples gave to the crowd.

Mt 14:20 And they all ate and were filled. And they took up twelve hand baskets full from the fragments that remained.

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They did all eat, not a crumb or a bit, but to satiety and fullness:  They did eat and were filled, yet twelve baskets remained; more was left than was at first set on.  So many bellies, and yet so many baskets filled.  The miracle was doubled by an act of boundless omnipotency.  It is hard to say, which was the greater miracle, the miraculous eating, or the miraculous leaving.  If we consider that they ate, we may justly wonder that they left any thing.
 
Observe farther, these fragments, though of barley bread and fish bones must not be lost; but by our Saviour's command, gathered up.  The liberal housekeeper of the world will not allow the loss of his orts. O how fearful then will the account of those be, who have large and plentiful estates to answer for as lost, being spent upon their lusts in riot and excess!

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Mt 14:22 And immediately Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a boat and to go before Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away.

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Jesus constrained them; that is, he commanded them to go away before him.  No doubt but they were very loth to leave him, and to go without him; both out of the love which they have to him and themselves.
 
Such as have once tasted the sweetness of Christ, are hardly drawn away from him: however, as desirous, as the disciples were to stay with Christ, yet at his word of command they depart from him.
 
Where Christ has a will to command, his diciples and followers must have a will to obey.