Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 13:12

"For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath." — Matthew 13:12 (ASV)

Whosoever hath, to him shall be given — These words sound like a proverb that, in its literal sense, applies to the conditions of worldly prosperity. In the world, fortune smiles on the fortunate, and nothing succeeds like success. Our Lord tells His disciples that a similar law is found in the conditions for spiritual growth in wisdom.

The disciples had some elements of this wisdom and, by using their knowledge correctly, could advance to gain more. The people, however, including even the scribes and Pharisees, were like those who had little or none. By not using what little they possessed, they were in danger of losing even that. The faithless Jew was sinking to the level of a superstitious heathen. Accordingly, this proverb teaches the same lesson that is later developed in the parables of the Talents and the Pounds.