The parables (in which he speaketh to the Iewes because they were reprobate) he expoundeth to his Disciples, shewing that in his sowing, three parts of foure shal perish, through the fault of the hearers. 21. And that his seruants must confesse their faith, 24. and vse their guifts (contrary to those stony and thorny hearers.) And that his Church (notwithstanding the losing of those three parts of the seed) shal be brought by his prouidence to the haruest, that is, to the end of the world: 30. growing once al in time, though in the beginning it be as the litle mustard-seed, 35. and though such tempests of persecution in the sea of this world doe rise against it.
And again he began to teach at the sea side; and a great multitude was gathered together unto him so that he went up into a boat, and sat in the sea, and all the multitude about the sea was upon the land.AND againe he began to teach at the sea side; and a great multitude was gathered togeather vnto him so that he went vp into a boate, and sate in the sea, and al the multitude about the sea was vpon the land.Et iterum cœpit docere ad mare : et congregata est ad eum turba multa, ita ut navim ascendens sederet in mari, et omnis turba circa mare super terram erat :
2And he taught them in parables many things, and said to them in his doctrine:And he taught them in parables many things, and said to them in his doctrine:et docebat eos in parabolis multa, et dicebat illis in doctrina sua :
3Hear ye; Behold, the sower went forth to sow.Heare ye; Behold, the sower went forth to sow.Audite : ecce exiit seminans ad seminandum.
4And whiles he soweth, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came, and did eat it.And whiles he soweth, some fel by the way side, and the foules of the aire came, and did eate it.Et dum seminat, aliud cecidit circa viam, et venerunt volucres cæli, et comederunt illud.
5And aliud: some other seed fell upon rocky places, where it had not much earth; and it shot up immediately, because it had not deepness of earth:And othersome fel vpon rocky places, where it had not much earth; and it shot vp immediatly, because it had not deepnes of earth:Aliud vero cecidit super petrosa, ubi non habuit terram multam : et statim exortum est, quoniam non habebat altitudinem terræ :
6and when the sun was risen, it parched; and because it had not root, it withered.and when the sunne was risen, it parched; and because it had not roote, it withered.et quando exortus est sol, exæstuavit : et eo quod non habebat radicem, exaruit.
7And some fell among thorns: and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded not fruit.And some fel among thornes: and the thornes grew vp, and choked it, and it yealded not fruit.Et aliud cecidit in spinas : et ascenderunt spinæ, et suffocaverunt illud, et fructum non dedit.
8And some fell upon good ground; and it yielded fruit that grew up & increased, and it brought forth, one thirty, one sixty, and one an hundred.And some fel vpon good ground; and it yealded fruit that grew vp & increased, and it brought forth, one thirtie, one sixtie, and one an hundred.Et aliud cecidit in terram bonam : et dabat fructum ascendentem et crescentem, et afferebat unum triginta, unum sexaginta, et unum centum.
9And he said: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.And he said: He that hath eares to heare, let him heare.Et dicebat : Qui habet aures audiendi, audiat.
10And when he was alone, the Twelve that were with him, asked him the parable.And when he was alone, the Twelue that were with him, asked him the parable.Et cum esset singularis, interrogaverunt eum hi qui cum eo erant duodecim, parabolam.
11And he said to them: To you it is given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God; but to them that are without, all things are done in parables:And he said to them: To you it is giuen to know the mysterie of the Kingdom of God; but to them that are without, al things are done in parables:Et dicebat eis : Vobis datum est nosse mysterium regni Dei : illis autem, qui foris sunt, in parabolis omnia fiunt :
12that seeing they may see, and not see, and hearing they may hear, and not understand: lest at any time they should be converted and their sins be forgiven them.that * seeing they may see, and not see, and hearing they may heare, and not vnderstand: lest at any time they should be conuerted and their sinnes be forgiuen them.ut videntes videant, et non videant : et audientes audiant, et non intelligant : nequando convertantur, et dimittantur eis peccata.
13And he said to them: Do you not know this parable? And how shall you know all parables?And he said to them: Doe you not know this parable? And how shal you know al parables?Et ait illis : Nescitis parabolam hanc ? Et quomodo omnes parabolas cognoscetis ?
14He that soweth, soweth the Word.He that soweth, soweth the Word.Qui seminat, verbum seminat.
15And they by the way side, are these: where the Word is sown, and when they shall have heard, immediately cometh Satan, and taketh away the Word that was sown in their hearts.And they by the way side, are these: where the Word is sowen, and when they shal haue heard, immediatly cometh Satan, and taketh away the Word that was sowen in their harts.Hi autem sunt, qui circa viam, ubi seminatur verbum, et cum audierint, confestim venit Satanas, et aufert verbum, quod seminatum est in cordibus eorum.
16And they likewise that are sown upon the rocky places, are these: who when they hear the Word, immediately with joy receive it;And they likewise that are sowen vpon the rocky places, are these: who when they heare the Word, immediatly with ioy receaue it;Et hi sunt similiter, qui super petrosa seminantur : qui cum audierint verbum, statim cum gaudio accipiunt illud :
17and they have not root in themselves, but are temporal: afterward when tribulation is risen and persecution for the Word, forthwith they are scandalizantur: not 'shocked'; made to stumble, caused to fall away.and they haue not root in them selues, but are temporal: afterward when tribulation is risen and persecution for the Word, forthwith they are scandalized.et non habent radicem in se, sed temporales sunt : deinde orta tribulatione et persecutione propter verbum, confestim scandalizantur.
18And other there be that are sown among thorns: these are they that hear the Word,And other there be that are sowen among thornes: these are they that heare the Word,Et alii sunt qui in spinas seminantur : hi sunt qui verbum audiunt,
19and the cares of the World and the deceitfulness of riches, and concupiscentiæ: disordered cravings, inordinate desires about other things entering in choke the Word, and it is made fruitless.and the cares of the World and the deceitfulnes of riches, and concupiscences about other things entring in choke the Word, and it is made fruitles.et ærumnæ sæculi, et deceptio divitiarum, et circa reliqua concupiscentiæ introëuntes suffocant verbum, et sine fructu efficitur.
20And these are they that were sown upon the good ground, which hear the Word, and receive it, and yield fruit one thirty, one sixty, and one an hundred.And these are they that were sowen vpon the good ground, which heare the Word, and receaue it, and yeald fruit one thirtie, one sixtie, and one an hundred.Et hi sunt qui super terram bonam seminati sunt, qui audiunt verbum, et suscipiunt, et fructificant, unum triginta, unum sexaginta, et unum centum.
21And he said to them: Cometh a candle to be put under a modio: a dry-measure vessel set over the lamp, or under a bed? and not to be put upon the candlestick?And he said to them: * Cometh a candle to be put vnder a bushel, or vnder a bed? and not to be put vpon the candlestick?Et dicebat illis : Numquid venit lucerna ut sub modio ponatur, aut sub lecto ? nonne ut super candelabrum ponatur ?
22For there is nothing hid, which shall not be made manifest: neither was any thing made secret, but that it shall come to light.For there is nothing hid, which shal not be made manifest: neither was any thing made secret, but that it shal come to light.Non est enim aliquid absconditum, quod non manifestetur : nec factum est occultum, sed ut in palam veniat.
23If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.If any man haue eares to heare, let him heare.Si quis habet aures audiendi, audiat.
24And he said to them: See what you hear. In what measure you mensi: measure out, it shall be measured to you again, and more shall be given to you.And he said to them: See what you heare. In what measure you mete, it shal be measured to you againe, and more shal be giuen to you.Et dicebat illis : Videte quid audiatis. In qua mensura mensi fueritis, remetietur vobis, et adjicietur vobis.
25For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, that also which he hath, shall be taken away from him.For he that hath, to him shal be giuen: and he that hath not, that also which he hath, shal be taken away from him.Qui enim habet, dabitur illi : et qui non habet, etiam quod habet auferetur ab eo.
26And he said: So is the Kingdom of God, as if a man cast seed into the earth,And he said: So is the Kingdom of God, as if a man cast seed into the earth,Et dicebat : Sic est regnum Dei, quemadmodum si homo jaciat sementem in terram,
27and sleep, and rise up night and day, and the seed spring, and grow up whiles he knoweth not.and sleep, and rise vp night and day, and the seed spring, and grow vp whiles he knoweth not.et dormiat, et exsurgat nocte et die, et semen germinet, et increscat dum nescit ille.
28For the spica: head, spike of grainth of itself bringeth forth fruit, first the blade, then the ear, afterward the full frumentum: grain, wheat, not maize in the ear.For the earth of it self bringeth forth fruit, first the blade, then the eare, afterward the ful corne in the eare.Ultro enim terra fructificat, primum herbam, deinde spicam, deinde plenum frumentum in spica.
29And when the fruit hath brought out itself, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because harvest is come.And when the fruit hath brought out it self, immediatly he putteth in the sickle, because haruest is come.Et cum produxerit fructus, statim mittit falcem, quoniam adest messis.
30And he said: To what shall we liken the Kingdom of God? or to what parable shall we compare it?And he said: To what shal we liken the Kingdom of God? or to what parable shal we compare it?Et dicebat : Cui assimilabimus regnum Dei ? aut cui parabolæ comparabimus illud ?
31As a mustard seed, which when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that are in the earth:As a mustard seed, which when it is sowen in the earth, is lesse then al the seeds that are in the earth:Sicut granum sinapis, quod cum seminatum fuerit in terra, minus est omnibus seminibus, quæ sunt in terra :
32And when it is sown, it riseth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and maketh great boughs, so that the birds of the air may dwell under the shadow thereof.And when it is sowen, it riseth vp, and becometh greater then al herbes, and maketh great boughes, so that the birdes of the aire may dwel vnder the shadow thereof.et cum seminatum fuerit, ascendit, et fit majus omnibus oleribus, et facit ramos magnos, ita ut possint sub umbra ejus aves cæli habitare.
33And with many such parables he spake to them the Word, according as they were able to hear:And with many such parables he spake to them the Word, according as they were able to heare:Et talibus multis parabolis loquebatur eis verbum, prout poterant audire :
34and without parable he did not speak unto them, but apart, he explicated all things to his Disciples.and without parable he did not speake vnto them, but apart, he explicated al things to his Disciples.sine parabola autem non loquebatur eis : seorsum autem discipulis suis disserebat omnia.
35And he saith to them in that day, when evening was come: Let us pass over to the other side.And he saith to them in that day, when euening was come: Let vs passe ouer to the other side.Et ait illis in illa die, cum sero esset factum : Transeamus contra.
36And dismissing the multitude, they take him so as he was in the boat: and there were other boats with him.And dismissing the multitude, they take him so as he was in the boat: and there were other boats with him.Et dimittentes turbam, assumunt eum ita ut erat in navi : et aliæ naves erant cum illo.
37And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was filled.And there arose a great storme of wind, and the waues beat into the boat, so that the boat was filled.Et facta est procella magna venti, et fluctus mittebat in navim, ita ut impleretur navis.
38And he was in the hinder puppi: stern of the boat of the boat sleeping upon a cervical: head-cushion; and they raise him, and say to him: Master, doth it not pertain to thee that we perish?And he was in the hinder part of the boat sleeping vpon a pillow; and they raise him, and say to him: Maister, doth it not pertaine to thee that we perish?Et erat ipse in puppi super cervical dormiens : et excitant eum, et dicunt illi : Magister, non ad te pertinet, quia perimus ?
39And rising up he threatened the wind, and said to the sea: Peace, be still. And the wind ceased; and there was made a great calm.And rising vp he threatned the wind, and said to the sea: Peace, be stil. And the wind ceased; and there was made a great calme.Et exsurgens comminatus est vento, et dixit mari : Tace, obmutesce. Et cessavit ventus : et facta est tranquillitas magna.
40And he said to them: Why are you fearful? neither yet have you faith? And they feared with great fear: and they said one to another, who is this (thinkest thou) that both wind and sea obey him?And he said to them: Why are you fearful? neither yet haue you faith? And they feared with great feare: and they said one to an other, who is this (thinkest thou) that both wind and sea obey him?Et ait illis : Quid timidi estis ? necdum habetis fidem ? et timuerunt timore magno, et dicebant ad alterutrum : Quis, putas, est iste, quia et ventus et mare obediunt ei ?
Annotations
12Lest they should be converted. These speeches here and elsewhere, we must not so understand as though he spake in parables of purpose & to this end, that the hearts might not understand, lest they should be converted; which were as much to say as that he would not have them understand, nor be converted: but we must learn the true sense of this very place in St. Matthew and in the Acts, where our Saviour and St. Paul speak thus: They have heard heavily, and have shut their eyes, lest perhaps they may see, and understand, and be converted, and I heal them. Whereby it is evident, that the speaking in parables was not the cause (for many being able the Apostles heard and understood) but themselves would not hear, and understand, and be converted: and so were the cause of their own wilful & obstinate infidelity. And therefore also he spake in parables, because they were not worthy to understand, as the other to whom he expounded them. Matt. 13. Acts 28.
27And sleep. The Church, and Christ's doctrine, (sleep we, wake we) increaseth by the great providence of God, only the Preachers must sow, and plant, and water, and God will give the increase, nourishing the seed in men's hearts. And therefore we must not give over, to be impatient and solicitous, if we have not always good success: but doing our duty, commit the rest to God.
31Mustard seed. If the Church and Truth had more and more decayed and been obscured after the Apostles' time unto ours, as the Heretics hold; then had it been great in the beginning, & small afterward: where this Parable saith contrary, that it was a mustard seed first, and afterward a great tree. vide St. Chrysostom ho. 5. contra Gentiles in vita S. Babylas Mart.
32The birds. Of all Sects or doctrine, Christ religion at the beginning was the smallest, and most contemptible; but the success thereof far passed all man's doctrine: in so much that afterward all the wisest and greatest of the world made their residence and rest therein.