Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



He propos'd another parable to them, which was this; the gospel-state is like a grain of mustard-seed which a man took to sow in his field. 'tis one indeed of the smallest grains: but when it is grown, it is the largest of the pulse kind, and becomes a tree: so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.

Again he said, to what shall we compare the state of the gospel? or by what parable shall we represent it? it is like a grain of mustard-seed, which when sown in the earth, is less than any other grain that is sown there. but after it is sown, it grows up, and becometh larger than other plants of the pulse kind, and shooteth out its branches so high, that the fowls of the air may lodge under its shadow. read more.
Thus he instructed them by such a variety of parables as were adapted to their capacity.

Then he said, what does the kingdom of God resemble? to what shall I compare it? it is like a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took, and sowed in his garden: it grew, and became so large, that the birds of the air built their nests in its boughs.


He propos'd another parable to them, which was this; the gospel-state is like a grain of mustard-seed which a man took to sow in his field. 'tis one indeed of the smallest grains: but when it is grown, it is the largest of the pulse kind, and becomes a tree: so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.

Then he said, what does the kingdom of God resemble? to what shall I compare it? it is like a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took, and sowed in his garden: it grew, and became so large, that the birds of the air built their nests in its boughs.

Again he said, to what shall we compare the state of the gospel? or by what parable shall we represent it? it is like a grain of mustard-seed, which when sown in the earth, is less than any other grain that is sown there. but after it is sown, it grows up, and becometh larger than other plants of the pulse kind, and shooteth out its branches so high, that the fowls of the air may lodge under its shadow.


When Jesus had finished these discourses, he departed from Galilee, and came into the confines of Judea, on the other side Jordan: where multitudes of people followed him, and he healed their sick.

Jesus departed from thence, and went towards the confines of Judea, thro' the country beyond Jordan: where the people resorting to him again, he renewed his instructions to them as usual.

As he was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath-day, a woman was present, who had been kept infirm by a spirit eighteen years: and stooped in such a manner, she was not able to hold up her head strait. Jesus seeing her, called her to him, and said, woman you are freed from your disorder. read more.
then he laid his hands upon her: and instantly she stood upright, and glorified God. but the ruler of the synagogue being highly incensed at Jesus's healing on the sabbath-day, said to the people, there are six days for work, you should come therefore for cure on those days, and not on the sabbath. to which Jesus replied, thou hypocrite, who is there among you that scruples to untie his ox or his ass, and lead him from the stall to water on the sabbath-day? and must not this daughter of Abraham, whom satan has held bound these eighteen years, be disengag'd from this bond, on a sabbath-day? at which all his adversaries were confounded. but the people were highly pleased, at the glorious actions which he perform'd. Then he said, what does the kingdom of God resemble? to what shall I compare it? it is like a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took, and sowed in his garden: it grew, and became so large, that the birds of the air built their nests in its boughs. again he said, to what shall I compare the kingdom of God? it is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leaven'd. Afterwards he pass'd thro' several citys and villages, where he taught the people, on his journey to Jerusalem. and somebody ask'd him, Lord, will there be but few people saved? to which he answered, strive to enter in at the narrow gate: for I declare unto you, that many shall try to get in, and shall not be able. when once the master of the family is enter'd in, and has fastned the door, you will stand without beating at the door, and cry, Lord, Lord, let us in: but he will answer, you are strangers to me. then you will say, we have eat, and drank with you, and you have taught in our streets. but he will answer, I tell you, you are strangers to me: depart from me, ye workers of iniquity. there will be weeping, and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. yet some shall come from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south, and shall be entertain'd in the kingdom of God. then you will see those, who were last, become first: and those who were first, become last. At the same time, some of the Pharisees came to him, and said, get away, retire from hence, for Herod designs to take away your life. but he answered them, go, tell that fox, that to-day and to-morrow I am casting out demons, and performing cures, and the third day my course will be finished: till then I must be stirring about, to-day, and to-morrow, and the next day: for a prophet cannot be put to death any where, but at Jerusalem. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killest the prophets, and stonest those, who are sent unto thee: how often would I have gather'd thy children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and ye would not?" you will soon find your aboad become desolate. I declare unto you, you shall not see me till the time, when you will say, "blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord."


Their attention being raised by this, Jesus pursued his discourse with a parable, occasion'd by their thinking, that, because he was advanc'd so nigh to Jerusalem, the kingdom of God would immediately commence. a nobleman, said he, was going to travel to a foreign country, in order to have his kingdom confirm'd to him at his return. and he called ten of his servants, to whom he deliver'd ten pounds: improve that, said he, till I return. read more.
but he being hated by the citizens, after he was gone, they sent a deputation to court, to make this protest, "we will not have him for our king." upon his return, being confirm'd king, he order'd the servants, he had trusted with the money, to appear, and inform him, what improvement each of them had made. the first came and said, Lord, your one pound has gained ten more. he answer'd, honest servant, that's well: since your industry has made so much of so little, I give you the government of ten cities. then the second came, and said, Lord, your pound has produc'd five more. his master replied, you shall be governor of five cities. but another came and said, Lord, here's your money, which I laid up safe in a napkin. for I was in fear of you, knowing you to be a hard master, who exact what you never gave, and reap where you have never sown. wicked slave, said he, from your own mouth will I convict thee. "you knew I was a hard master, exacting what I never gave, and reaping where I never sowed: " why then did you not lodge my money in the bank, that on my return I might have drawn it out with interest? then he said to his attendants, take the one pound from him, and give it him, that gain'd ten. but they objected, Lord, he has already ten pounds: I tell you, said he, that to every one who improves, more shall be given: and he that makes no improvement, shall be stript of what he has. as for those enemies of mine, who would not have me for their king, bring them here, and slay them in my presence.

For the kingdom of the Messiah is like a family, the master whereof went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. having agreed with them for a penny a day, he sent them to his vineyard. he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place, and said to them, read more.
go ye likewise to my vineyard, and I will give you what is reasonable: accordingly they went thither. about the sixth and ninth hour he went out again, and gave the like directions. at last, about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and said to them, why do you stand idling thus all day long? they answer'd him, because we are not hired; go work then. said he, in my vineyard, and I will give you what's reasonable. so when even was come, the master of the vineyard said to his steward, call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last to the first. they then that were hired about the eleventh hour, came and received every man his penny. last of all they came who were hired first, expecting to have received more, but they had only a penny a man, who upon the receipt of it fell a murmuring against the master, and cry'd, these last have work'd but an hour, and you put them upon the level with us, who have born the whole fatigue and heat of the day. but he answered one of them, friend, I do thee no wrong: did not you agree for a penny a day? take your due, and be gone: I will give the last the same I give you. can't I do what I will with my own? because I am bountiful, are you invidious? thus the last shall be first, and the first last: for though many are invited, few have precedence.

Another parable he propos'd to them in these words. the state of the gospel in this world may be compar'd to a man who sowed good grain in his field: but while the people slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. but when the blade was sprung up, and bore grain, the tares appeared too. read more.
so the servants of the yeoman came and said, Sir, did not you sow your field with good grain: how comes it then to have tares? 'tis some enemy, said he, has done this. the servants replied, shall we go then and pull them up? no, said he, lest in pulling up the tares, you should root up the wheat with them. let both grow together till the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will thus direct the reapers, first of all gather the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: then lodge the wheat in my barn. He propos'd another parable to them, which was this; the gospel-state is like a grain of mustard-seed which a man took to sow in his field. 'tis one indeed of the smallest grains: but when it is grown, it is the largest of the pulse kind, and becomes a tree: so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches. Another of his parables was this; the gospel-state is like unto leaven, which a woman took and mixt with three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. All these things spake Jesus to the multitude in parables, and did not discourse to them without some parable. so that this saying of the prophet was fulfilled, "I will talk in parables, I will utter what has been kept secret from the foundation of the world." Then Jesus leaving the multitude, went into the house: and his disciples coming to him, said, explain to us the parable of the tares of the field. he answered them, he that soweth the good seed, is the son of man: the field is the world: the good seed are the children of the kingdom: but the tares are the children of the wicked one: the enemy that sowed them is the devil: the harvest is the conclusion of the age: and the reapers are the angels. as then the tares are gathered and burnt in the fire; so shall it be at the conclusion of the age. the son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all that make others offend, and those who do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. then shall the just shine out like the sun, in the kingdom of their father. he that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hid in a field: a man finds this treasure and buries it again, then goes in great joy, sells all that he hath, and purchases that field. Again, the heavenly kingdom is like a merchant-man, who is in quest of curious pearls: and meeting with one of great value, presently sells all that he has to make the purchase. Again, the gospel-kingdom is like a net that is cast into the sea, and draws all sorts of fish: when it is full, they drag it to shore, then sit down, and pick out the good to lay by, but throw the bad away. so it shall be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and after they have separated the wicked from the just, they shall cast the wicked into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then Jesus said to them, have ye understood all this? they reply'd, yes, Lord. then said he to them, thus every teacher who is instructed in the doctrine of the gospel, is like the master of a family, who taketh out of his treasure things new and old.

In this respect the gospel-kingdom may be represented by that of a temporal prince, who had a mind to call his servants to account. when he had begun to reckon, one was brought to him indebted the sum of ten thousand talents. but being insolvent, his lord gave orders that he, with his wife, and children, and all that he had, should be sold for payment. read more.
the servant therefore fell prostrate before him, and cry'd out, Lord, allow me but time and I will pay the whole. upon which the lord of that vassal, touch'd with compassion, gave him his liberty, and discharged him of the debt. but this very servant presently after met with one of his fellow-servants, who owed him an hundred pence: and violently seizing him, said, pay me the debt. and his fellow-servant fell at his feet, and embraced him, saying, allow me time, and I will pay thee all. which he would not allow: but immediately threw him into prison, till he should pay the debt. his fellow-servants upon seeing this were very much concern'd, and went to acquaint their master with what had pass'd. then his lord order'd him to be call'd, and said to him, O thou wicked slave, I forgave thee all thy debt, upon your request: should not you then have had the like compassion for thy fellow servant as I had for thee? so that his lord in great displeasure delivered him to the jayler till he should pay the whole debt. in the same manner will my heavenly father likewise treat you, if ye do not sincerely forgive every one the trespasses of his brother.

One of the company hearing that, said to him, happy is he that shall be entertain'd in the kingdom of God. upon which Jesus said, a certain man made a great entertainment; where many were invited. at supper-time he sent his servant to tell the guests to come, because every thing was ready. read more.
but they were all of a mind in making some excuse: the first said to him, I have bought a piece of ground, which I must needs go and see: therefore pray excuse me. another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, which I am going to prove: I beg you to excuse me. another said, I have married a wife: 'tis therefore impossible for me to come. so the servant return'd, and related the whole matter to his master, who in resentment said to his servant, go immediately into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring hither the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind. at length the servant said, sir, your orders have been executed, and still there is room. the master reply'd, go then to the high-ways and by-paths, and compel them to come in, that my house may be full. for I tell you that not one of those, who were invited, shall taste of my supper.

The kingdom of the Messiah will then be such, as when ten virgins took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. five of them were wise, and five were foolish. they that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: read more.
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. while the bridegroom tarried, they were drowsy and slept. and at midnight there was a sudden cry, see the bridegroom comes; go and meet him. then the virgins all arose, and trimmed their lamps. and the foolish said to the wise, give us of your oil, for our lamps are going out. but the wise answered, for fear there should not be enough for us and you, go rather to those that sell; and buy for your selves. and while they were gone to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready, entred with him into the hall, and the door was shut. afterwards came the other virgins likewise, and cry'd, Lord, Lord, pray let us in. but he answered, I assure you, I know you not. watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour. So it was when a man was going to travel into a foreign country, he called his servants, and delivered to them his stock: to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every man according to his respective ability, and then set out on his journey. now he that had received five talents, immediately employed them in trade, and gain'd five talents more. so he that had received two, gained likewise other two. but he that had received one, went to dig a hole in the ground, and hid his lord's money. after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them. accordingly he that had received five talents, came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents: besides those, there's five talents more, which I have gain'd. his lord said to him, well done, thou art an honest faithful servant; thou hast been faithful in a small trust, I will give thee a much larger trust; go in and partake of thy master's diversions. he also that had received two talents, came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents: here are two other talents which I have gain'd besides them. his lord said to him, well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful in a small trust, I will give thee a much larger trust: go in and partake of your master's joy. then came he who had received the one talent, and said, Lord, I knew that you were a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered: fear made me hide the talent under ground: but there you have what is your own. his lord answered and said unto him, thou vile slothful wretch, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not scatter'd: should not you then have lodged my money at the banker's, and so at my return I should have received my own with interest. here, take the talent from him, and give it to him that has the ten. for he that makes use of what he has, shall have more; but if he makes no improvement thereof, it shall be taken from him. take then that worthless fellow, turn him out in the dark, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

the kingdom of the Messiah is such, as when a certain king made a wedding-feast for his son. he sent out his servants to call those that were invited to the wedding: but they would not come. then he sent out other servants, saying, tell those who are invited, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and every thing is ready: come to the entertainment. read more.
but instead of showing any regard, they went their ways, one to his farm, another to his traffick. others seiz'd his servants, outrageously abused them, and slew them. when the king was informed of this, he was greatly incensed, and having order'd his forces to march, he put those murderers to death, and laid their city in ashes. then he said to his servants, the feast is ready, but they who were invited were very unworthy. go therefore into the high streets, and as many as ye find, invite to the marriage: accordingly they went about the streets, and assembled all they met indifferently, both good and bad: so that the hall was furnished with guests. but upon the king's coming in to see the guests, he observ'd one there without a wedding garment: and he said to him, friend, how came you in hither, without a wedding garment? and he was speechless. then said the king to the servants, bind him hand and foot, take him away, and turn him out in the dark: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. thus many are called, but few are converted.

Again he said, is a lamp ever brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? or to be set on a stand? for there is nothing conceal'd but what shall be made manifest: nor was any thing kept secret, but in order to be divulged. if any man have ears to hear, let him hear. read more.
And consider, said he, how you hear; for in proportion as you weigh what is communicated to you, new light shall be given: for he that makes use of what he has shall have more, but he that does not, shall be stript of what he has. Again, he said, the state of the gospel is like that of the grain, which a man sows in his land: however he takes his repose by night, or is employ'd by day, the grain shoots up and grows without his inspection. for the earth spontaneously produces, first the blade, then the ear, after that the grain of corn in the ear. but as soon as the fruit is ripe, the sickle is applied, because the harvest is come. Again he said, to what shall we compare the state of the gospel? or by what parable shall we represent it? it is like a grain of mustard-seed, which when sown in the earth, is less than any other grain that is sown there. but after it is sown, it grows up, and becometh larger than other plants of the pulse kind, and shooteth out its branches so high, that the fowls of the air may lodge under its shadow. Thus he instructed them by such a variety of parables as were adapted to their capacity. his stile in publick was figurative, but he explain'd every thing to his disciples in private.

Then he said, what does the kingdom of God resemble? to what shall I compare it? it is like a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took, and sowed in his garden: it grew, and became so large, that the birds of the air built their nests in its boughs. again he said, to what shall I compare the kingdom of God? read more.
it is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leaven'd.


He propos'd another parable to them, which was this; the gospel-state is like a grain of mustard-seed which a man took to sow in his field. 'tis one indeed of the smallest grains: but when it is grown, it is the largest of the pulse kind, and becomes a tree: so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.

Then he said, what does the kingdom of God resemble? to what shall I compare it? it is like a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took, and sowed in his garden: it grew, and became so large, that the birds of the air built their nests in its boughs.

Again he said, to what shall we compare the state of the gospel? or by what parable shall we represent it? it is like a grain of mustard-seed, which when sown in the earth, is less than any other grain that is sown there.


For the kingdom of the Messiah is like a family, the master whereof went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard.

Another of his parables was this; the gospel-state is like unto leaven, which a woman took and mixt with three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

The kingdom of the Messiah will then be such, as when ten virgins took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom.


Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hid in a field: a man finds this treasure and buries it again, then goes in great joy, sells all that he hath, and purchases that field.

Another parable he propos'd to them in these words. the state of the gospel in this world may be compar'd to a man who sowed good grain in his field:

He propos'd another parable to them, which was this; the gospel-state is like a grain of mustard-seed which a man took to sow in his field.

Again, the gospel-kingdom is like a net that is cast into the sea, and draws all sorts of fish:

Again, he said, the state of the gospel is like that of the grain, which a man sows in his land:

Then he said, what does the kingdom of God resemble? to what shall I compare it?