John Calvin Commentary Matthew 13:18

"Hear then ye the parable of the sower." — Matthew 13:18 (ASV)

According to Matthew and Luke, Christ explains the parable to His disciples simply and without a reproof. However, according to Mark, He indirectly blames them for being slow to understand, because those who were to be the teachers of all did not surpass others.¹⁹⁴

The general truth conveyed is that the doctrine of the Gospel, when it is scattered like seed,¹⁹⁵ is not everywhere fruitful, because it does not always meet with fertile and well-cultivated soil.

He enumerates four kinds of hearers: the first do not receive the seed;¹⁹⁶ the second appear, indeed, to receive it,¹⁹⁷ but in such a way that it does not take deep root; in the third, the grain is choked;¹⁹⁸ and so a fourth kind remains, which produces fruit.

This does not mean that only one hearer out of four, or ten out of forty, embraces the doctrine and yields fruit. Christ did not intend here to set an exact number or to arrange the people of whom He speaks into equal divisions. Indeed, where the word is sown, the yield of faith is not always the same but is sometimes more abundant and at other times more scarce.

He only intended to warn us that, in many people, the seed of life is lost because of various defects, as a result of which it is either destroyed immediately, or it withers, or it gradually degenerates.

So that we may derive greater advantage from this warning, we should keep in mind that He does not mention those despisers who openly reject the word of God, but describes only those in whom there is some appearance of teachableness.

But if the majority of such people perish, what will become of the rest of the world, who openly reject the doctrine of salvation?

I will now address each class.

¹⁹⁴ “Ne passent autrement les autres pour leur monstrer le chemin;”— “did not go beyond others to show them the road.”;”— “did not go beyond others to show them the road.”

¹⁹⁵ “Estant espandue ca et la comme le b1e qu’on iette en terre;”— “being scattered here and there, like the corn which is thrown into the earth.”;”— “being scattered here and there, like the corn which is thrown into the earth.”

¹⁹⁶ “Desquels les premiers ne retienent pas la semence en leurs coeurs pour germer;” — “the first of which do not retain the seed in their hearts so as to spring up.”;” — “the first of which do not retain the seed in their hearts so as to spring up.”

¹⁹⁷ “Les seconds semblent bien l’avoir gardee iusques a venir a germer;” — “the second appear to have kept it till it came to spring up.”;” — “the second appear to have kept it till it came to spring up.”

¹⁹⁸ “Aux troisiemes, le ble estant en herbe est estouffe;” — “in the third, the corn, while yet in the blade, is choked.”;” — “in the third, the corn, while yet in the blade, is choked.”