Matthew 13:17

17 Verely I say vnto you that many Prophetes and perfaicte me have desired to se tho thinges which ye se and have not sene the: and to heare tho thinges which ye heare and have not herde the.

Matthew 13:17 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 13:17

For verily I say unto you
This is added for the further confirmation of what is before said, concerning the happiness of the disciples, in seeing and hearing what they did:

that many prophets, and righteous men;
Luke says, ( Luke 10:24 ) "kings"

have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen
them, and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard
them.
To see Christ in the flesh, and have a clearer insight into the knowledge of the mysteries of grace, were things very desirable to men of the highest class in church and state, and of the best characters, such as Abraham, ( John 8:56 ) . Jacob, ( Genesis 49:18 ) . David, ( Psalms 14:7 ) . Solomon, and the church in his time, ( Song of Solomon 8:1 ) . Isaiah, and the saints with him, ( Isaiah 25:9 ) with many others. These indeed had a sight of Christ, but a very distant one; they saw him afar off in the promises and prophecies of him; and not very clearly, but through dark types and cloudy sacrifices; whereas the disciples saw him in person, heard him preach, took in the evidence of his miracles, and felt the power of his doctrines, and spiritually and savingly understood them. A way of speaking, somewhat like this, stands in the Talmud F16;

``Many have watched to expound in Mercavah (the beginning of Ezekiel's prophecy), (Mhymym htwa war alw) , "and have not seen it all their days".''


FOOTNOTES:

F16 T. Bab. Megilla, fol. 24. 2.

Matthew 13:17 In-Context

15 For this peoples hertes are wexed grosse and their eares were dull of herynge and their eyes have they closed lest they shulde se with their eyes and heare with their eares and shuld vnderstonde with their hertes and shuld tourne that I myght heale them.
16 But blessed are youre eyes for they se: and youre eares for they heare.
17 Verely I say vnto you that many Prophetes and perfaicte me have desired to se tho thinges which ye se and have not sene the: and to heare tho thinges which ye heare and have not herde the.
18 Heare ye therfore ye similitude of the sower.
19 Whosoever heareth the worde of ye kingdome and vnderstondeth it not ther cometh the evyll ma and catcheth awaye yt which was sowne in his hert. And this is he which was sowne by the wayesyde.
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