Mark 4:29

But without a parable spake he not unto them,.... For the above reason, as well as for the accomplishment of Scripture; See Gill on Mat 13:34, Mat 13:35.

And when they were alone, he expounded all…

Immediately he putteth in the sickle - This is the way with the farmer. As soon as the grain is ripe it is cut down. So it is often with the Christian. As soon as he is prepared for heaven he is taken…

He putteth in the sickle - ΑποϚελλει, he sendeth out the sickle, i.e. the reapers; the instrument, by a metonomy, being put for the persons who use it. This is a common figure. It has been supposed…

The lessons which our Saviour designs to teach us here by parables and figurative expressions are these: -

I. That those who are good ought to consider the obligations they are under to do good; that…

when the fruit is brought forth Literally, when the fruit yields itself; or offers itself, i. e. is ripe. The original word only occurs here in this sense. Comp. Virgil Geo. i. 287,

"Multa adeo gelidâ…